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President Obama Meets With Navy SEALs; Al Qaeda Confirms Bin Laden's Death; Floods Close Some Mississippi Casino; Obama to Speak at Ft. Campbell

Aired May 06, 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: Hello, everyone. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

I want to start the hour with the fact that something everyone knows now. Osama bin Laden may be dead, but here is what is new. There are new fears, new evidence his terror group is plotting attacks against America. So many new developments today and we have all them for you. Here we go.

This hour, President Obama is meeting several members of the elite SEAL Team 6 who raided bin Laden's compound Sunday.

Also, the president will be speaking to some 2,200 troops just back from Afghanistan at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Of course, we're going to take you there live for that.

Also, we're learning al Qaeda has confirmed that bin Laden is dead, and now they are warning that his blood will be a curse on the United States, while calling on Pakistanis to rise up and revolt.

Also, a huge roundup in Pakistan, dozens of people arrested for ties to bin Laden's compound there in Abbottabad, reports that bin Laden had some, we will call them unusual, highly, highly secretive neighbors. The CIA was there. They were watching. They were listening living in a safe house nearby that compound.

Also, take a look with me. This is some amateur video we have. Now, we cannot independently confirm this, but our affiliate in Turkey reports these are fires and a possible explosion inside bin Laden's compound the night American commandos took him down.

Also, we now know bin Laden wasn't just symbolic figurehead for al Qaeda sitting around inside that compound, not at all. In fact, we are learning that he was actively working even tactically speaking with al Qaeda planning upcoming terror plots. So, we're going to go over al Qaeda's wish list and tell you about the plan behind America's newest and latest terror threat.

Given all of that here, I want to begin with al Qaeda's confirmation that Osama bin Laden is dead and its threat to retaliate against the United States. Now, al Qaeda's statement posted online translated by CNN says bin Laden did not die in vain.

Look at this with me. It vows his blood -- quote -- "will be a curse that will chase the Americans and their agents, a curse that will pursue them inside and outside their country."

Juliette Kayyem has spent years studying terrorism and is a former assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland security.

And, Juliette, I thank you for coming on.

JULIETTE KAYYEM, FORMER DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Thank you.

BALDWIN: I want to begin with this confirmation from al Qaeda of bin Laden's death. How significant is that and will it at all quell any of the doubters out there?

KAYYEM: It may not quell all the doubters, but I do think it is significant.

First, it just shows that al Qaeda is organized enough to plan a message and get it out there, and, secondly, that they intended or they had planned out a succession for the death of bin Laden. So, essentially, they are telling the world, we anticipated his death, but we are still around, we're still organized.

So I think both to give that succession plan, but also strategically to say to the world and its adherents, we are still relevant. We are planning things. America, still be afraid.

It makes it a really important document. And my hope is, it gives the Obama administration some space now to sort of quell all the rumors, to silence the debate about releasing the photo, because now that al Qaeda has admitted that Osama bin Laden is dead, you don't need better evidence than that.

BALDWIN: But Juliette, you mentioned a succession plan.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BALDWIN: Is there really a succession plan? Because we were just talking behind the scenes sort of wondering if we may be seeing some sort of power struggle between perhaps al-Zawahri, maybe Anwar al-Awlaki. What may we see next?

KAYYEM: I think it is too early to tell what kind of power struggle may be going on with al Qaeda. I think, obviously, the intelligence is going to lead us to the second-tier leadership.

At this stage, I think the document, though, is important because they got a message out. And that is what they needed to do. Terrorist organizations have very little capability to show that they exist, except for statements like this or successful terrorist attacks, which they of course allude to in the document itself.

BALDWIN: I just -- you mentioned the statement. I want to show just one more piece of the statement for people who are just learning about this.

KAYYEM: Yes. BALDWIN: The statement seemed to try to paint bin Laden's killing as something -- as a cowardly act, saying it was accomplished -- quote -- "by disgrace and betrayal."

KAYYEM: Yes.

BALDWIN: What do you make of that? Then we will move on.

KAYYEM: Right.

I mean, it is clear that this document is trying to get the Pakistanis sort of riled up both about the U.S. coming in there without Pakistani support and then also because of the death of bin Laden. So, in many ways, the document is addressed not just to the adherents of al Qaeda, be to the Pakistanis, because, remember, al Qaeda likes chaos. That is what they benefit from.

They benefit from leadership that can't manage their own government and they benefit from outrage. And those are the two things that this document is clearly playing with. And then the final thing, of course, is alluding to potential attacks against us.

BALDWIN: Well, we know that bin Laden was there, their quintessential leader.

KAYYEM: Right.

BALDWIN: And one huge nugget that came out today was that he's not -- he was not just a figurehead. He was very, very involved in future terror plots tactically, et cetera. And al Qaeda says did not build an organization that will vanish with his death or fade away with his departure.

But with him gone, apparently all these partner militant groups did not just pledge allegiance to al Qaeda.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BALDWIN: It was specifically to bin Laden, himself.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BALDWIN: So, with his death, what does this do to al Qaeda?

KAYYEM: Well, a couple things.

I think the documents, like you said, are interesting just because they show his historic operational interests and tactics. It has been ongoing for Osama bin Laden's life. I remember, in the 1990s, with the African embassy bombings, there was testimony in that case that had Osama bin Laden saying, no, I want the vans here and not here to blow up the U.S. Embassy in Kenya. He was very, very tactical. And this is consistent with that.

I think also, I mean, as you allude to, that, you know, part of what al Qaeda is trying to do is just sort of engender enough outrage that there is going to be sort of -- whether it is the adherents to Osama bin Laden or it is people who were 10 years old on September 11, that they are going to go out and do things maybe randomly, not planned by al Qaeda, simply to show al Qaeda's relevancy, because that is all -- that is what al Qaeda needs right now, right?

With the death of bin Laden, they need to know that, whether it is the initial adherents to Osama bin Laden or the people that he bred who have never met him, never fought in Afghanistan with him, they want to show that sort of that the war still wages.

BALDWIN: It's interesting you say they like chaos.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BALDWIN: And I do want to talk about what is next.

Juliette Kayyem, thank you so much.

And in terms of what could be next, if you ride the train, you ride the subway, you might have noticed extra security today. And that is because Osama bin Laden was doing a lot more, as we just mentioned, than simply hiding out in that compound in Pakistan.

He was plotting attacks. Al Qaeda's terror wish list is in those computers, the thumb drives, the papers taken by those American commandos after they raided his compound Sunday night. And it's already resulted in a terror alert.

The potential target -- you're are looking at this here -- trains.

Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve live for me in Washington.

And, Jeanne, I know you have some new information on al Qaeda's plans. Tell me about it. And how far along was this plan and what did it involve?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, first, discussing the rail plot specifically, we are told that the information about this came from a handwritten document.

And U.S. official says that there is reason to believe that this information came from the writings of Osama bin Laden himself.

BALDWIN: Huh.

MESERVE: As to how far along this was, officials say there's no indication that anything was imminent, that anything had been put into motion. This was something that was aspirational.

What it involved, as we told you, had to do with putting objects on tracks, causing derailments. It mentioned doing it on bridges and over valleys, presumably to maximize casualties.

And as for timing, it purportedly was to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this September, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Do you have specifics, Jeanne, as far as cities at all?

MESERVE: I am told that there were no specific cities or rail systems mentioned in the rail -- in the rail intelligence specifically, but, generally speaking, that the materials do indicate that al Qaeda still had an interest in hitting the big cities in the United States, specifically New York, Chicago, Washington, and Los Angeles, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So, what is being done now? We mentioned sort of a higher -- higher security today. What is being done because of this news that is coming out?

MESERVE: Well, it is up to the individual rail systems.

What the Department of Homeland Security has done is to put out this information. The TSA has issued a bulletin giving them the basics. Many of these rail systems had already ramped up security. They did it last weekend when news of Osama bin Laden's death broke, because terrorists have repeatedly targeted rail systems. They know they are vulnerable. They're big. They're wide-open.

And so many of them had already increased their precautions, Brooke, even before this information about this potential plot was made public.

BALDWIN: Well, that makes sense.

And in addition to the rail plot, Jeanne, what else is eking out? What else was on al Qaeda's wish list?

MESERVE: Well, they aren't saying much about any other potential plots they have uncovered. As far as I have been able to determine, they have not come up with anything along those lines.

I have been told by a U.S. official, however, that they -- they have found some videotapes at that compound. Those right now are being aggressively analyzed. We hope to bring you more information on that later.

BALDWIN: OK. Jeanne Meserve, thank you so much for the update there.

And, look, we are not leaving this story because we are still getting so many new details from Pakistan today, including information on the CIA's super-secret -- what they're calling the safe house just outside of bin Laden's compound.

Also, we are learning that bin Laden's wife is spilling even more secrets of her own.

Plus, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL J. WALSH, PRESIDENT, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION: This rain event that we have had in the last two weeks is 600 percent more than normal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We are staying on this story as well, talking about epic flooding crippling the Southeast, forcing mandatory evacuations and interstate shutdowns. Even parts of the Mississippi River are closed.

Now fears even some of those casinos could be swallowed up. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Osama bin Laden had some highly unusual and highly secretive neighbors in his compound in Pakistan, as in the CIA.

"The New York Times" and "Washington Post" both reporting American agents were spying on bin Laden from a nearby safe house. In fact, we're learning they took photographs through mirrored glass, eavesdropped on conversations several houses away inside that compound. They even had a nickname for that tall man that they kept watching taking regular walks who they would be able to see the top of his head over those compound walls. They had a nickname for him. And he was called "The Pacer."

But they could not confirm that that man was in fact Osama bin Laden. Now, that CIA team hid their presence from everyone, of course, there, including, though, Pakistan's intelligence service.

Right now, Pakistani intelligence agents, they are rounding up dozens of people with ties to the bin Laden compound.

CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson live once again for us in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

And, Nic, specifically in terms of these arrests, who are these people? Are these people being arrested perhaps because they were suspected of helping bin Laden hide?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is what the government is the trying to figure out there, anybody who sold meat or milk to the bin Ladens in the compound, to people who maybe had more nefarious connections with him.

And what the government is trying to do is, anyone who was going in and out of that compound that they have known to come about, they are picking them up and they're holding them for questioning. And they say they will let them go if they were nothing more than the milk salesman or the meat salesman.

But what they want to try to figure out is, are they al Qaeda sympathizers? Were they supporting bin Laden? Are they members of al Qaeda? Exactly who all the people that had those connections, that that is what they are trying to do, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Also today, Nic, we're learning there was an anti- American protest in Abbottabad today. I read that they were shouting: "Go, America. Your show is over."

What do they want?

ROBERTSON: Well, they want America to leave the -- to leave Pakistan.

That was what they are calling for. They said bin Laden never lived in the compound, that the United States' troops just came in here to terrorize innocent women and children who were living there. What -- this is a political organization that is trying to rally people against its own government.

But I have to say it was a small rally. It was incredibly peaceful. It didn't drum up any kind of local support, really draw -- didn't really draw in crowds off the street. And it certainly was not angry.

And some of the anti-American signs, they were recycled from previous protests. So, it wasn't fiery by any stretch of the imagination, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, so they're still fairly quiet.

What about the news today that the U.S. apparently carried out its first drone strike in Pakistan since bin Laden's death? Do we know who the target was, Nic?

ROBERTSON: We don't. And, of course, a big question here is, is, was that strike based on information that they got from bin Laden's compound?

And we may never know the answer to that, but it was in an area in North Waziristan, close to the border between -- on the side of Pakistan with -- close to the border with Afghanistan, an area called Datta Khel, which is a place where there have been al Qaeda, Taliban training camps. This area has got a lot of jihadist activity. It has been the site of many different targetings in the past, 12 people killed, according to two Pakistani intelligence sources, but we don't know who they are.

And often, in these cases, we never do actually find out who they were, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Nic, I have to get this into you also, what we are learning, a little bit more. You had reported yesterday that bin Laden's wife who is being interrogated said she and bin Laden had been in that compound for some five years. What about these reports that -- that they had only stayed in two rooms for a duration of time?

ROBERTSON: It sounds incredible. The way life would have been led in that compound, as we understand, you had the main building and then you had the larger compound to the right. And as we looked into that larger compound, you could see the area where the women would have done the laundry and the cooking, because, in the bin Laden-type of society, women are really segregated from the men.

But there were four families really living in there. It's divided into four bits. There were four separate electricity bills, bin Laden and his wife, his son in one area, and the two couriers, the courier and his family, the brother of the courier and his family, so four separate parts.

So it does seem conceivable that, for a lot of the time, she really did just live in two rooms, trying to keep their profile really low. Hard to imagine what that would do to somebody, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Two rooms potentially for several years. Amazing new details we are getting.

Nic Robertson, thank you, live in Abbottabad.

And it wasn't just the U.S.' brave Navy SEALs who rushed into bin Laden's compound. You see these pictures? There was also one very courageous canine who went along. More on -- more on this guy next.

Plus, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The entire time that she was going to the hospital, was she awake and alert?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, her eyes were closed. As far as alert, we're saying she was responsive to pain or responsive to verbal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The desperate rush to save Gabby Giffords' life. CNN's Sanjay Gupta spoke with the men who scrambled to keep her alive the day she was shot in her head -- their amazing story coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now that al Qaeda's leader is gone, speculation is growing about who may be taking his place. Some say the logical choice is bin Laden's longtime deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Bin Laden was seen as a charismatic leader. He and al-Zawahri founded al Qaeda in 1988. Al-Zawahri is believed to be the strategic mastermind of the group, but he may not be the top candidate. Terror experts say he lacks the draw that bin Laden apparently had, and he is not regarded as an inspiring figure.

But sources say al Qaeda's success plan calls for al-Zawahri to take over, but it is unclear if they will follow that. The chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that al-Zawahri is on their radar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Any closer to finding Ayman al-Zawahri, the number two?

REP. MIKE ROGERS (R-MI), CHAIR, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: We have lots of information on him. I do believe that we're -- I can't say it's imminent, but I do believe we're hot on the trail.

BLITZER: In Pakistan?

ROGERS: I do believe --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Another contender who take over al Qaeda is Anwar al- Awlaki. He is a cleric who was born in the U.S. Right now, he is seen as a key player in the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP.

Now, in addition to those 79 American commandos who took part in Sunday's top-secret mission, there was one nonhuman member, a dog. According to reports, it's either a Belgian Malinois or a German shepherd. The dog's identify, like these Navy SEALs, not being released.

But the hero canine was well-trained -- listen to this -- reportedly had special gear, including body armor, infrared cameras, even had an ear bug to hear remote commands. How about that?

Now checking in live pictures, packed house, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 2,200 different troops there that Mr. Obama will be speaking in front of this hour. President Obama is also meeting with dozens of Navy SEALs, SEAL Team 6, those guys directly involved with getting Obama, raiding his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. We will bring you the president, of course, in front of all of these different members of the 101st Airborne.

Also, he is also meeting with some of the Night Stalkers, the 160th SOAR Regiment, also based there in Fort Campbell as well.

Now this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see no shortage of manpower or material. We have extra fuel arrangements already in place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The Mississippi River is still rising, and the water is spilling in. Now Memphis residents bracing for the possible flood of a century. We are on the ground there next. Plus, some of the casinos that helped much of Mississippi's economy from sinking after Hurricane Katrina, now they risk being swallowed up by all these floodwaters. I will be speaking live with a casino owner about what is being done to save them. That is coming up.

Also, we are just getting some breaking news now about an emergency landing -- more on that next. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Got some news here just into CNN.

Here is what we know right now. An American Airlines flight headed from Miami to San Francisco was forced to make an emergency landing in Las Vegas earlier today. According to an airport spokesperson, the plane was diverted, simply precautionarily, after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The plane landed safely, no injuries reported.

We are making phone calls. As soon as we get more information, I will pass it along to you.

Also, concern is rising, right along with the flooding there, on the Mississippi River. Look at these pictures. Today, the Coast Guard announced it is closing parts of the river to commercial traffic. It could remain closed, they say, for at least a week.

But, obviously, this -- this flooding has huge economic impacts here on farmers, manufacturers who rely on the Mississippi River each and every day to get their goods to market. Also today, more people are being told they have to leave, they have to evacuate.

I want you to listen to what the head of the Mississippi River Commission has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: There is a report from the National Weather Service that this event, this rain event that we have had in the last two weeks is 600 percent more than normal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: In Memphis, Tennessee, they are filling sandbags to try to hold back the rising river. The water level there is expected to reach nearly 48 feet next week. Folks, that is 13 feet above flood stage.

CNN's David Mattingly is in Memphis, where people are obviously very closely watching the river rise.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): City parks already flooded and water creeping closer to houses by the day. People of Memphis watch the rising Mississippi River and wonder.

LEE STREATER, MEMPHIS RESIDENT: How high will the water get, you know? Who is most at risk? Which land sits lower?

MATTINGLY: The Mississippi River floods of 2011 are expected to break records to the north of Memphis this weekend, and then continue setting high watermarks as far south as Baton Rouge. The river is expected to crest in Memphis at 48 feet above flood stage, the highest it's been in generations.

(on camera): Memphis hasn't seen that much water since the disastrous floods of 1937. Back then, city officials tell me the river rose all the way to here, where I'm standing, which is four blocks away from the river banks.

(voice-over): But there have been big changes since to keep the river back. A system of flood walls, gates and levees developed since the 1950s should keep the city dry. But it's a system that's never been hit with this much water.

BOB NATIONS, SHELBY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: They have never been tested. All of the subject matter experts are telling us, we can have a high confidence level.

MATTINGLY: Army Corps of Engineers blowing levees to divert floodwaters into Missouri farmland slowed the water's arrival downriver. Officials around Memphis are using the time to prepare. A call has gone out to volunteers to fill sandbags for government buildings and hospitals. The hope is they won't be needed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: David Mattingly, thank you in Memphis there.

And, you know, the water is getting so high along the Mississippi River that many casinos are forced to close. Take a look at Harrah's Casino. This is Tunica, Mississippi, right along the river. Every day, the floodwaters keep creeping up and up and up.

And it finally had to close this week, other casinos following suit as well. In fact, at one point, a SWAT team armed with a machine gun showed up at a casino just to help Brink's security guards remove millions of dollars in cash.

I want to bring in Valerie Morris. She is with Caesars Entertainment, the owner of some of those Mississippi casinos.

And with all the money in-house, all the jobs dependent on casino business there, Valerie, this -- this may not have been a very light decision for you.

VALERIE MORRIS, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT: No, actually, it has been very difficult for Tunica County, because it is $87 million worth of gross gaming revenue during the month of May that is going to be lost. And for local and state governments, it is close to $10 million in taxes. So, it definitely was a very difficult decision to make, but the safety and the security of our employees, of our guests are what -- utmost importance. And that is where the decision had to be made.

BALDWIN: How high is the river around your casino?

MORRIS: It's around 41 feet right now.

BALDWIN: And as you watch

MORRIS: And we actually have three casinos.

BALDWIN: Three casinos, and as you are watching the river rise and rise and rise. I mean, put in perspective for us, I know you talked the dollar amount already, but this is big business for your part in town. So, when these casinos -- if the casinos were flooded, what happens?

MORRIS: Well, actually, it's just lost revenue. But what I can say is that Caesars Entertainment has made the commitment to pay our employees, both toke and tip, for the duration of the closure through May. So, that is a huge commitment that we've done so our employees are not affected.

From a gross gaming revenue, obviously, that is a loss to the entire state, the county, and, of course, to our own company. So, in all actuality, what we're trying to do is mitigate any damage we possibly can so we can get open as soon as possible.

BALDWIN: What about, though, the security issue, and the millions of the dollars inside of these casinos? You mentioned you have three. I mean, talk to me just about the security effort to get the money out of there safely?

MORRIS: Well, it's a standard procedure because we do drops all of the time when the casinos are open, based on the moving money. It's just a matter that all of the money needed to be removed from Harrah's and the Horseshoe and the Tunica Roadhouse casinos, our three properties, and it's just millions and millions of dollars that needed to get off of the casino barges to insure their safety to put them back in the bank and so that when we're ready to reopen, that we have those dollars safe and secure.

BALDWIN: And what is next? Does you -- I know you are in Memphis right now, but, as you and your employee who you say that you're still, you know, paying as you watch the water levels rise -- is there anything that you can do?

MORRIS: All we can do is to mitigate as much as possible of the damage. We had over 200 employees the day before yesterday, sandbagging all of the casinos at Horseshoe and Roadhouse. It's over 20,000 sandbags to try and mitigate any damage. We also are having our employees out volunteering and working with all the other disaster relief programs that are possibly out there. So, all we can do is to wait for Old Man River to tell us what is going to happen, and do the best we can with what we're given.

BALDWIN: Old Man River, go down. Valerie Morris, thank you very much.

MORRIS: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Live for me in Memphis.

And they are known as the SEAL Team Six, the Navy's elite of the elite, and it's the group that carried off one of the nation's most secretive commando missions. So, have you wondered what it would actually take to be one of these guys? I will speak to a former Navy SEAL commander, former member of Navy SEAL Team Six. That is next.

Also, we want to remind, we are awaiting President Obama. He is in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In fact, we've learned that he's been speaking with some of the members of that elite SEAL Team Six today. Although, of course, we won't get to see who they are, certainly, the president does. But we will be seeing him speaking in front of some 220 troops there, members of the 101st Airborne -- what did say? Twenty-two hundred troops there, members of the 101st Airborne Division there in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. We will bring you live pictures as soon as we see the president, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It is safe to say that the plans to bring down Osama bin Laden were among the country's most closely guarded secrets. And a group assigned to this mission is an elite Navy team. But outside of the movies, we rarely get to hear much about them.

Ryan Zinke is a former Navy SEAL Team Six commander. He joins me from Whitefish, Montana, where he is now a state senator.

And, Mr. Zinke, it is so fantastic to have you on. Thank you so much.

RYAN ZINKE, FORMER NAVY SEALS COMMANDER: Good to be here.

BALDWIN: I want to begin with SEAL Team Six, you know, we keep hearing elite of the elite. I'm just curious, are we -- are we talking all guys, no women?

ZINKE: Well, under law, that is correct. SEALs are only males, although there are a lot of support people that are females, you know, that play an important role in the mission.

BALDWIN: OK. I just wanted to make sure if I keep referring to them as guys. I'm not offending any of the ladies. So, how many guys are on SEAL Team Six.

ZINKE: Well, the entire force is about 3,000. And there was 10 percent of the force that are at that group. BALDWIN: OK. So, 3,000, you know, faceless heroes even the White House and the Department of Defense don't really publicly acknowledge their existence. So, do you know any of the guys who are part of this mission, and this operation Sunday?

ZINKE: Well, I'm sure I do. It's a small community, and everyone knows everyone else.

You know, also, it just to be a SEAL, itself, is a long process. It takes 3 1/2 years before an individual says I want to be a Navy SEAL before he's placed in harm's way the first time. So, by the time he get to SEAL Team Six, you have a number of other deployments and you're really talking a long road, and the attrition is pretty high.

BALDWIN: Well, let's talk about the attrition. I think I read that, what, 3,000 students are accepted at first and then it sort of whittled down, and whittled down and whittled down some more -- and I know you go through the hell week, and your notorious underwater demolition training in Coronado, California. But tell me about how hellish is it.

ZINKE: Well, it runs, four or five -- well, five or six days. It's about two-hour cumulative sleep during that period. You stay wet, cold, sandy, and you the privilege of having a number of instructors always with you. And it's hard.

And, I played college football and I have to tell you that SEAL training is harder than double-days.

BALDWIN: I read that you have described the personality of these guys on SEAL Team Six as cocky and arrogant. Why do you say that?

ZINKE: Well, I would say cocky and confident at times among SEALS. I think that we are fairly arrogant.

But, you know, you are talking about the guys who have dedicated their entire life to being the very best. There is a sense of confidence that's hard to describe, but when you are the world's best, you are confident.

And I think that a lot of the mission set demands that you are confident, and you know you can do it, you are trained to do it. You have superb leadership, the right equipment. And I think also, you understand the consequences of failing.

BALDWIN: Well, they didn't fail on Sunday. I mean, we are reading that they had sort of this mock compound set up on either coast, these SEALs didn't even know it was, you know, bin L who their target would be until late in the game.

How do you really, though, ultimately train for these kinds of mission in Abbottabad?

ZINKE: Well, you know, these guys are war-hardened veterans, and we've been at this for 10 years. And they have been contacted hundreds of operations and seizing compounds similar to this, albeit never the number one target. But there's been a number of operations that have led to the dismantling of the al Qaeda organization, you know, throughout different countries.

And so, you know, the sequence is roughly the same. You try to find as much intelligence as you can, and it is a teamwork effort for every SEAL on the ground. There was no doubt hundreds of supporting cast that supported it all the way through intelligence collection that someone brought the fuel in and someone fueled the helicopters up, you know, and a lot of the players you'll never get the notoriety, but they do their job as well every day and they do it well.

BALDWIN: They won't get the notoriety, either thankless, and I'm just dying of curiosity of this and then I have to let you go. When this -- the particular -- let's say that the particular guy who pulled the trigger and killed bin Laden and goes to his wife, will he ever be able to share with his wife that he's the one who did it?

ZINKE: Well, you know, this is -- this is a question that has been asked and it's new. You know, we have never really had this situation with technology as driving so quickly. You know, frankly, I was surprised at first that SEAL Team Six was mentioned by senior -- and confirmed by senior officials. And after that, everyone is curious about SEAL Team Six.

But I think the man who pulled the trigger, you know, there is a chain of command all the way above (INAUDIBLE), including the president. So, I'm hoping he remains faceless. But, you know, time will tell whether that individual comes out.

BALDWIN: Time will tell. It is fascinating. It's impressive. Montana State Senator Ryan Zinke, thank you so much for coming on. I really appreciate it.

ZINKE: It's a pleasure.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, CNN speaks with the paramedics who took care of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords moments after that shooting back in January in Arizona. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a never-before-seen look of those critical few hours as crews raced to save her life. And wait until you hear why they had to wait before helping her. That's also.

Also, again, live pictures, Fort Campbell, Kentucky -- 2,200 troops there waiting on the president. He is there. We should be seeing him in minutes.

Stay here.

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BALDWIN: Wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' recovery is moving forward. In fact, she and her husband, Mark Kelly, who you know the commander of the space shuttle Endeavour, went out to eat last night, went out to dinner at a Houston area restaurant. Congresswoman Giffords is in rehab in Houston for her brain injury. She says she will return to Florida when the scrubbed launch, what was that, a week ago today, the space shuttle Endeavour is rescheduled. We're also learning new details about the moments immediately after the congresswoman was shot in Tucson in January. The paramedics who took her to the hospital were just rookies, but obviously, they helped to save her life. They spoke with our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, about the critical ambulance ride.

And this is all part of the CNN special. We are calling "Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Saving Gaby Giffords." And that premiers this weekend here on CNN, but Sanjay has a little preview for us today. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It was striking just young these paramedics are, the job that they had to do, the organized chaos they were describing and how quickly it all unfolded. They also had a 13-minute ambulance ride, which was so critical. Here's how they described it to me.

(voice-over): Amazing as it might be seemed for someone shot point-blank in the head, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was giving the medics a glimmer of hope. They just needed her to hang a few more minutes until they could get her to the hospital.

(on camera): Were you trying to inform her of what's going on? Are you keeping her abreast of what's happening?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. That's something we always try to do no matter what our situation. We just try to let the patient know, I'm going to stick you with an I.V., we're going to get you, you know, we'll take another blood pressure, where, you know, what we're doing here. So, the patient is aware of what we're doing, it's not a shock to them.

GUPTA: The entire time that she was going to the hospital, was she -- was she awake and alert?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, her eyes are closed. As far as alert, she was responsive to pain or responsive to verbal. She would flinch if we puked her, if we pinched her and she would squeeze our hands if we asked her to. Her eyes were shut and swollen and her eyes were closed, so we could not assess that level of responsiveness. But for the most part, we could see her kind of wincing in pain, any kind of moving. I don't know if anybody told her that she had been shot, and I don't know if she knew the circumstances she was involved in.

GUPTA: One other thing that I want to point out is when they first arrived at the scene, they could not go immediately in, because there was still concern that there might be a second shooter, just how safe was it. We follow these paramedics along as they talk about it for the first time. We talked to the doctors who cared for her, made some critically important decisions, and also the rehab staff and team in Houston who are charged with sort of making Gabby Giffords whole again.

It's all part of the documentary and fascinating insights into some exclusive conversations. II hope you get a chance to watch it. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Sanjay Gupta, thank you.

We'll be talking to Sanjay next hour more about that.

But I want to go quickly here to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as we're hearing perhaps the president is running ahead of schedule. There is Dan Lothian, our White House correspondent who's been traveling with the president to Kentucky.

And Dan, we know, in just a couple of minutes, the president will be addressing some 2,200 troops there. Do know yet what the president will be saying?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a chance for to a president to essentially thank them for their service. And, you know, unlike what some people said mission accomplished here, it's really to thank them for a job well done, because as the White House has been pointing out, this mission -- while a key part of it has been won, there is still this ongoing war against terrorism, and this is not a time, at least, from the administration's standpoint to let-up.

So, that is the message that we'll hear from the president here today and a chance to say thank you to members of the 101st Airborne.

But before coming over here, the president, right after he landed, went and meet with those Special Forces, the Navy SEALs who took part in the hunting down of and killing Osama bin Laden. In fact, we're told by the White House official that he met with those who were directly involved with that operation. We don't know any of the details of what took place, and we are told that there will be some kind of a read-out that will take place later today.

But what's interesting is that these guys, obviously, their names, their identities are classified. So, the president peeled off from the traveling press, went and met with them. We are told that it was part "thank you" and also a chance for the president to get an informal debrief from them about what took place their on the ground, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. So, we will get a readout from that closed door meeting. Many, many people wanting to know, you know, what the president said, of course, and to the thankless heroes there who descended upon that compound in Abbottabad.

Dan Lothian, stand by.

I want to bring in Wolf Blitzer, of course, who is in Washington.

And, Wolf, what a week it has been starting with, you know, Sunday night, you were live on television when the world learned that bin Laden had been killed. And then yesterday, it was when the president was in Ground Zero, the vice president at the Pentagon. And now, today, fittingly, the president there thanking the troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Why do you think it's so important for him to be right where he is today?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": It sends a powerful message to all the men and women of the United States military that the commander-in-chief is deeply appreciative of their sacrifices.

These men and women -- most of them are very young. They work hard. They risk their lives. They sacrifice enormously. They're away from their homes for long periods of time.

And in the case of these Navy SEAL, this team maybe SEAL Team Six, they literally are risking their lives and you saw what they were able to do in Pakistan in killing bin Laden.

So, the president wants to express his appreciation. All presidents do it. It's very important that they do it, just to reassert how grateful not only they, but the entire nation are, to the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States military.

BALDWIN: Wolf, stand by for a moment, just quickly. I just want to let all our all viewers know what's happening. Here's what's happening. I think I heard an announcement perhaps asking these guys to sit down.

We do know that the vice president is there. He will be introducing the deputy commanding general of the 101st, Jeffrey Colt. And then Mr. Colt will then be bringing out the president.

I have to sneak a quick break in, Wolf Blitzer, Dan Lothian, both of them standing by. We will be right back with more, live pictures, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Stay right with us.

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BALDWIN: Let's get those live pictures once again here, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Again, we are standing by for President Obama's address there to about 2,000-plus troops based out of Fort Campbell. It should happen here in a matter of minutes. Of course, it's the president. So, schedule could be running early, could be running late. We're just waiting for that.

Also, the president, as we just learned from White House correspondent Dan Lothian who was traveling with the president today, he did meet with several of those Navy SEALs, as they are called. The elite of the elite, SEAL Team Six, spending a fair amount of time with them and we should be getting a read out on that meeting.

So, we'll get Dan back up a little later, as soon as he gets that information.

But I do want to move on for now. We'll take you back, of course, as soon as we see the president and the vice president. But, earlier today, President Obama visited Indianapolis and spoke with employees at a transmission plant for hybrid vehicles.

The president laid out his plan for energy independence and combating what you and I know oh so well, those rising gas prices. And the president insists the economy is on an upswing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We just went through one of the worst recessions in our history, worst in our lifetimes, the worst since the Great Depression. But this economic momentum that's taken place here at Allison is taking place all across the country. Today, we founded out that we added another 268,000 private-sector jobs in April.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I want to bring in Alison Kosik. She is live for me at the New York Stock Exchange.

And, Alison, help me out with these jobless numbers today. First, we know the unemployment rate jumped just a tad up to 9.0, but we just heard the president say, you know, adding 268,000 private- sector jobs. So, good news or bad news?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, if this report was good, Brooke, it would be a strong report. You know, everybody has been hoping to see something in the economy bounce back. And I think today they found it in today's numbers.

Now, keep in mind, though, one report doesn't spell a recovery, you know, in the job sector. But it really shows that employers are adding jobs. We've seen this trend over the past seven months. It just really needs to continue.

And then if you look at the finer details in this jobs report, there are really positive things. Wages are up. Every major sector added jobs except for the government.

And you mentioned that 9 percent unemployment rate, that's actually not such a bad thing. It's because more people are entering the workforce to look for jobs, so even though the unemployment rate rose, it really is because, you know, people are getting back into the saddle again, they're sending out their resumes, they're looking for jobs, and that means they are being count in that number -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: And then, Alison Kosik, we have to talk gas prices. And I know we've been saying, you know, eventually, they will hit the average, you know, of $4. Where does it sit right now?

KOSIK: OK. So we actually -- we fell back just a little bit, less than a penny. But don't get your hopes up, you know, that gas prices have reached their peak. They probably haven't.

But I'll tell you what? Consumers have actually said enough is enough. Demand for gas actually fell 2 percent last week. So, you know, you and I, and people all around us, they are pulling back on filling up because these prices are getting too high. But as you know, much of our gas prices depends on what the price of oil is. And oil prices have actually taken a nosedive this week.

But those prices have to stay down until we really see it at the pump. And that usually takes one to two weeks before we see any kind of sort of transition to the gas pump. That's if oil prices kind of stay at their low level right now -- Brooke. BALDWIN: We will take any break we can get, Ms. Kosik. Thank you very much.

KOSIK: I hear you.

BALDWIN: And we are standing by for President Obama and his address to the troops there in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. We're told he could be speaking in a matter of minutes. We will bring that to you live.

Also, he has met with members directly involved in that operation that went down on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, met with a number of them directly in that. And that is just about all we know. It was a closed door meeting.

But we should be getting some details as they will eke out and a read-out a little later today. Stay with us. Got to take a quick break. More live pictures after this.

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