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Delta Flight Diverted to New Mexico; Getting Blunt with Pakistan; Al Qaeda Vows Revenge
Aired May 08, 2011 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR:. Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We are following this breaking story right now coming out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Delta Flight 1706 has been diverted because of a potential security threat.
It landed in Albuquerque just a short time ago. The exact nature of this threat is unclear, however. The flight had left Detroit and was heading to San Diego. The FBI is on the scene investigating.
CNN is monitoring this situation, and we'll bring you more details as soon as they become available.
Now back to that image of President Barack Obama. Well, he is calling on Pakistan to investigate possible ties between Pakistani intelligence and al Qaeda terrorists. Ever since Osama bin Laden was discovered living less than a mile from Pakistan's top military academy, there has been widespread speculation that Pakistani officials must have known he was there.
President Obama was asked about that speculation during an interview that will be aired tonight on CBS' "60 Minutes."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We think that there had to be some sort of support network for bin Laden inside of Pakistan, but we don't know who or what that support network was. We don't know whether there might have been some people inside of government, people outside of government, and that's something that we have to investigate, and more importantly, the Pakistani government has to investigate.
And we've already communicated to them, and they have indicated they have a profound interest in finding out what kinds of support networks bin Laden might have had. But these are questions that we're not going to be able to answer three or four days after the event. It's going to take some time for us to be able to exploit the intelligence that we were able to gather on site.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So let's bring in CNN's senior political director, Mark Preston.
So, Mark, why is this important for the president to say this given the expected role of Pakistan in the ongoing war on terrorism?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SR. POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you know, Fred, I think there's a lot of questions certainly here in the United States and around the world. What did Pakistan know and at what level of government did Pakistani officials know that Osama bin Laden was, in fact, in their country?
Now, I will tell you, this has become the main topic of conversation on this Sunday. It seems to be the next step forward.
Osama bin Laden is dead. The future of al Qaeda is, of course, on the line. But we need to find out, what did Pakistan know? Because they've become such a strong ally, an important ally in the war on terror.
Well, we heard from the Pakistan ambassador today. He addressed this very subject about the U.S. raid.
The United States, Fredricka, as we know, went into Pakistan. They did not tell the government they were doing so, and it touched a raw nerve.
Let's hear what the ambassador, Husain Haqqani, had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUSAIN HAQQANI, PAKISTANI AMB. TO U.S.: Let's be clear about one thing. Even though we are satisfied with the outcome of what happened, we are not satisfied about the violation of our national sovereignty. No country likes its sovereignty being violated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: Now, Fredricka, he also had to say in a Q&A after his appearances on ABC today that, in fact, there is a strong anti- American sentiment in Pakistan, and the only way that the U.S. can really rebuild trust with the country is to acknowledge that sovereignty. He also did go on to say, Fredricka, the fact of the matter is the United States needs Pakistan in the war on terror much like Pakistan needs the United States -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And one has to wonder whether that relationship will change as a result of Osama bin Laden's killing right there on Pakistani soil. I understand what the ambassador is saying, but you do have to wonder, long term -- and I'm sure the White House is thinking about this, too -- long term, how much the U.S. and Pakistan will be able to work together from this day forward.
PRESTON: Yes, no question about that. And as we go back to what we heard the president tell "60 Minutes," they don't know at what level this support network existed, if it existed within the government. We also heard from the national security adviser, Tom Donilon. He was on CNN today. He basically echoed what President Obama told CBS. So, they're being very careful about saying that there was in fact help from the Pakistani government, but they're saying they want answers.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're going to hear more on that momentarily as well.
All right. Mark Preston, thanks so much from Washington.
So, also today, we're learning more about the bin Laden courier who unwittingly led American forces to Osama bin Laden's Pakistan hideout.
On CNN's "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS" today, former CIA director Michael Hayden revealed that the courier was first identified back during the Bush administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL HAYDEN, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: I think it was about four years ago, in 2007, we had built up sufficient lead information on the name of the courier, that we thought it was ready for presidential prime time. So we briefed it to the president not as something imminent, but as our most promising lead to track down bin Laden, because, frankly, Fareed, the trail had been quite cold for a long period of time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Al Qaeda says it will revenge Osama bin Laden's death. Is that likely?
CNN's Reza Sayah reports from Islamabad, Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT : It was only a matter of time before al Qaeda vowed revenge against the U.S. for the killing of Osama bin Laden. In a statement that confirmed its leader's death, al Qaeda said, bin Laden's "blood will be a curse that will chase the Americans and their agents, a curse that will pursue them inside and outside their country."
(voice-over): Ever since the attacks of 9/11, al Qaeda threats have rattled the U.S. and cost Washington billions of dollars in security measures. For many Americans, it has cost them their sense of security, too. But a look at the recent history of al Qaeda suggests the likelihood of another attack on the scale of 9/11 is low, at least for now.
FRAN TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: I think that al Qaeda has been a lesser threat over time.
SAYAH: Security analyst and former adviser to the Bush administration Fran Townsend says al Qaeda is still dangerous, but effective U.S. counterterrorism, combined with al Qaeda's diminishing resources, have rendered the group largely ineffective.
TOWNSEND: We've seen multiple groups affiliated with al Qaeda, and then al Qaeda themselves attempt things, but usually it's not a large-scale attack, and they haven't been successful.
SAYAH: Since 9/11, al Qaeda and its affiliates have failed to pull off a single major terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Smaller-scale attacks have failed, too.
December, 2009, FBI agents arrest Najibullah Zazi and foil an al Qaeda plot to bomb the New York City subway system.
Christmas Day, 2009, Umar Abdulmutallab's underwear bomb fizzles out as passengers subdue him in a plane over Detroit, Michigan.
May, 2010, Faisal Shahzad's homemade car bomb fails to detonate in New York's Times Square.
(on camera): So, the facts show al Qaeda has failed to kill a single American on U.S. soil since 9/11. In comparison, over roughly that same span, there have been more than 320,000 U.S. deaths in car accidents and more than 125,000 homicides. Yet, fear of al Qaeda continues to linger in America's psyche.
(voice-over): Outside the U.S., al Qaeda has carried out successful attacks in Madrid in 2004, London in 2005, in Algiers in 2007. So the possibility of a revenge attack is there.
Experts advise continued vigilance.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Reza Sayah joins us now live from Islamabad.
So, it has been now about 24 hours, Reza, since the world has been able to absorb the images from those videos that were confiscated from bin Laden's compound that the Department of Defense released yesterday.
What kind of action has come out of Pakistan since?
SAYAH: Well, these new images are convincing some skeptics here in Pakistan that bin Laden is dead, but it's not convincing everyone. But I think the big story here is the added pressure to the Pakistani government, especially the army and the security establishment.
Over the past couple of years, we've certainly heard a lot of senior U.S. officials suggest that perhaps Pakistan's security establishment has links to militant groups, but never has the U.S. president come out like President Obama did today and emphatically suggest that perhaps there is a link between the security establishment and militant groups.
So the pressure is on the Pakistani army and the spy agencies to explain itself. Over the past couple of days, it has defended itself, trying to convince the world that they had no idea that Osama bin Laden was in this compound. They haven't convinced everyone.
Tomorrow, the prime minister is scheduled to make his big speech to the parliament. A lot of people will be watching to see the message he has to say.
WHITFIELD: Reza Sayah, in Islamabad.
Thanks so much.
And violence has flared up again in Egypt. Christians and Muslims clashed and a house of worship burned. Details on that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM.
The Libyan woman who claimed that she was held against her will, beaten and raped by soldiers loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, is no longer in Libya.
Let's go you live to Tunis, in Tunisia, CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.
Where is she now and why?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we actually don't know exactly where she is at the moment. What we do know is she managed to escape Libya, into Tunisia, on Thursday. And her journey is absolutely incredible.
She managed to get the help of two Libyan army officers who decided to desert the army. And with their families, they traveled in an army vehicle along mountain roads to get out of Tripoli, the capital, to the border with Tunisia. And when they got to the border, they got rebels, Libyan rebels, to help them sneak across the border into Tunisia, where she went to a safe house.
And when she was at that safe house on Saturday, CNN's Khalil Abdallah caught up with her, talked to her about getting out of the country, about how she disguised herself. She used a local costume to cover all but just one eye. She didn't tell anyone her name as she was leaving the country.
She also said that she wanted to go and see her parents, but she's still very worried about the situation. She may be followed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Would you like to go see your family in the east? Or what are you planning next in the future?
EMAN AL-OBEIDY, ALLEGES BEATING AND RAPE BY GADHAFI TROOPS (through translator): I still don't know what I'm going to do. Of course I'd like to see my family. I have called some relatives of mine in Egypt, but still did not hear back from them.
No, I did not rush. I walked to my cousin's house, and we all met then, rode in the same car.
We left very normally, of course. I was wearing -- bring me that. It's a traditional tribal headwear a maziria (ph), which was given to me by my friend's mother. I was wearing it, and indeed, you can't see anything apart from my one eye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, the way that Eman al-Obeidy was beaten just two months ago in the hotel in Tripoli where we all were, and Khalil Abdallah himself witnessed it and had his camera smashed by government officials as they tried to stop her from speaking out against the regime, such a change, such a difference now. She is much happier, more relaxed, although she is worried that there may be Libyan agents following her, and she is now getting diplomatic help.
A European embassy sent a vehicle to the border, brought her here to the Tunisian capital. She arrived about midnight last night. But since then, she's sort of dropped out of sight. But we do understand she is getting protection from a diplomatic protection team as she's considering what her next move is -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: I wonder, Nic, if she at all worries for the safety of her family members back in Libya, especially now that she is making her whereabouts somewhat public, that she is in Tunisia, and trying to get some assistance there. But she is speaking out publicly about how she fled.
ROBERTSON: She is very concerned. She is very concerned what the implications might be.
She left her sister, her sister's husband, and their child -- her sister's child -- back there in Tripoli, and she's worried about them. They're already getting a difficult time.
Her husband has not been paid for several months, so they're hurting with cash. She knows that whatever she says can reflect on her family, so she does have concerns about that as well.
But Eman al-Obeidy really became, if you will, the sort of symbol of the brutality of the Libyan regime, of the way that it aggressively stops people speaking out, the right to speak out against the government. And so for so long she was asking for help.
It finally came, and now she's out of the country. European diplomats are also helping her. Where she goes next, that's a very big question at the moment -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Nic Robertson, thanks so much, from Tunis, Tunisia.
(NEWSBREAK)
WHITFIELD: Back in this country, a surprise rescue in Nevada. This Canadian couple disappeared seven weeks ago while traveling in a van on a remote road in northern Nevada. They were last seen in surveillance video from a convenience store in Baker City, Oregon. That was nearly two months ago.
And then, this past Friday, hunters found the woman, but not her husband. Rita Chretien told her rescuers that she survived by eating tiny amounts of trail mix and snow. Family in Canada say the discovery is a great Mother's Day gift.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LORRAINE HOVING, ALBERT CHRETIEN'S SISTER: For Mother's Day, we want to walk in, and we want to look at Rita and hold her and hug her. I'll probably cry just seeing Rita, knowing that she survived seven- and-a-half weeks in a van, and hung on to hope for all that time. Probably, words will not come, and probably tears will come and lots of hugs and kisses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So this is bittersweet. While they found Rita Chretien, the search now turns to finding her husband. He was last seen on March 22nd, when he left her to find help.
Michelle Costa is a reporter with CNN affiliate KMTV in Twin Falls, Idaho. And she's joining us right now on the phone, just outside a hospital where Rita Chretien was taken.
So, how is she doing? She's there to nurse whatever injuries. And the fact that she hasn't eaten solid food in two months, how is she doing at that hospital?
MICHELLE COSTA, REPORTER, KMTV: Yes, that's right.
Right now, we are outside of the staging area right outside of St. Luke's Magic Valley Regional Hospital. That's right here in Twin Falls, Idaho.
We did speak with a spokesperson for the hospital a little bit earlier. They mentioned she's in fair condition.
Doctors are telling them that she's making good progress, she's upbeat. She has had -- really important, she's had a small meal that's consisting of mainly Jell-O. She's on a liquid diet.
Remember, I mean, she's been out there for seven weeks, so she's lost a lot of weight. They have to slowly start doing that liquid diet to get her back on that. But doctors are really optimistic.
They said they're going to be monitoring her for the next 24 hours. They'll reevaluate how she's doing and then decide if she'll be transferred closer to home.
The big story right now is that her family members did come down here to Twin Falls, Idaho, from British Columbia. They got here really late last night. It's about a 12-to-14-hour drive. They are just overjoyed that she's doing so wonderful. Obviously, a bittersweet moment, seeing that their father Albert is still missing at this time.
WHITFIELD: And what more do we know about the search? How are they concentrating the search to try to find him?
COSTA: Well, the search has been very difficult. Obviously, down there in Elko County, Nevada, they've had a lot of problems.
They had mud, they have snow. It's a really difficult area to get to.
The car was found in a national park. So I did speak with Detective Carpenter, who is out of Elko County. They have ground personnel, about 15 people out there, searching.
They were trying to use an aircraft. They could not utilize that yesterday because they've had such bad weather conditions. But they're hoping to get that up in the air today.
We are having big storms down here, lots of rain coming in. They're hoping to use that, but as of now, they have had no luck. They are trying to just do what they can and get to Albert however they can.
WHITFIELD: All right. Michelle Costa.
I know people are holding out hope and saying their prayers that that couple will be reunited again. Thanks so much for that update.
All right. Here's a question for you. Could your name perhaps determine what your job is?
Take a look at these names. We'll tell you what they're known for when we come back. Take a quick look. Do you see your name in there?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM.
We continue to follow this breaking story out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Delta Flight 1706 was diverted because of a potential security threat. It landed in Albuquerque a short time ago. The exact nature of the threat, however, is unclear.
The flight had left Detroit and was heading to San Diego before it was diverted there to Albuquerque. The FBI is on the scene investigating.
An airport spokesperson says the passengers have been taken off the plane. They are currently checking everything out, and checking the passengers out as well.
CNN is monitoring the situation, and of course we'll bring you more details as they become available. So that story we continue to watch out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
All right. So, you know, we showed you a list earlier. Did you find your name on that list: Ryan, Matt, Jessica and all the other ones there? Jason, Chris?
OK. So, what are these names? What do they have in common? As you can see, they are the top names in the athletics world around the world.
So this brings us -- and there are some top CEO names. We're going to talk a little more about that.
This brings us to the names and kind of equal status of names. LinkedIn, actually, has the list of the top CEO names globally and domestically. Career expert Debra Shigley took a look on this Mother's Day --
Happy Mother's Day.
DEBRA SHIGLEY, CAREER & LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Thanks. Happy Mother's Day to you.
WHITFIELD: -- to help some of us give a little boost as to the significance of the names, and for those who may have a little baby on the way, you may wants to consider these names if you want your child to become a big old CEO or something.
SHIGLEY: Yes. I mean, there could be some correlation between the name and their future profession. You never know.
WHITFIELD: OK. Very good.
So, globally, let's look at the name. Globally, I guess, among males, these are the top names generally -- I don't know if this is a coincidence or is this planned? The top names of CEOs around the world.
SHIGLEY: Right. So, you see a lot of very short names among the guys.
(CROSSTALK)
SHIGLEY: This is true. In addition for the U.S. names, you see a lot of short names as well.
WHITFIELD: Well, what does that mean?
SHIGLEY: And it kind of lends belief that, you know, male CEOs, they kind of go for the short buddy-buddy names, accessibility, familiarity, kind of being one of the guys. It might be something --
WHITFIELD: Pretty easy to remember, too -- Bob, Jack.
SHIGLEY: Easy to remember, exactly.
WHITFIELD: John. SHIGLEY: Something under five letters. You see a lot of four- letter names amongst the male CEOs. So, who knows? It could be a correlation between kind of familiarity amongst your colleagues and that kind of thing.
WHITFIELD: Let's look at that list one more time.
These are the men, globally, top CEO names. It's coming. Be patient.
There we go. OK. Bill, Ron, Christian. OK, a couple that have maybe two syllables there.
SHIGLEY: Right.
WHITFIELD: Alexander.
SHIGLEY: More one-syllable names though, lots of nicknames.
WHITFIELD: Christian.
SHIGLEY: Lots of nicknames. There's your nickname on there.
WHITFIELD: Oh! If only I were a man, right? I could be a CEO with the name "Fred." I like that.
OK. Well, it's interchangeable.
SHIGLEY: Yes. Absolutely, yes.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then we're talking about names for women globally.
SHIGLEY: Right.
WHITFIELD: OK. So "Fred" is not on the list. I'm not hurt, but I made the man's list, right? So, the female list --
SHIGLEY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Globally, top CEO names.
SHIGLEY: Yes. So the female list --
WHITFIELD: Oh, there you are!
SHIGLEY: I am. Well, technically, I'm number three because my mother --
WHITFIELD: How you spell it.
SHIGLEY: -- yes. My mom actually wanted my name to be short, under five letters -- five letters or under. But you do see a couple "Debras."
One interesting thing is you see more two-and-three-syllable names. And there is some talk about women perhaps using longer, more formal names to appear more professional. You don't see a lot of cutesy names on that list.
WHITFIELD: Oh.
SHIGLEY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: So they'll have to rethink as they name their children these nice artsy kind of names.
SHIGLEY: Yes. Well, you know, it's interesting. You can go from the nicknames to the more formal names.
I remember myself I used to go by "Debbie." I was "Debbie" growing up, and then once I got to college and I was sending out resumes, I thought, maybe intuitively, maybe "Debra" is more appropriate for sending out my resume.
Again, this could just be a correlation with how women choose to present themselves, who are in the professional world. But it's just a thought. Maybe a nickname when you're younger and then a more formal name when you're in the professional world. It could be.
WHITFIELD: All right. Very good.
And then we've got the list of names here in the U.S. as it pertains to men who are CEOs.
SHIGLEY: Right.
WHITFIELD: Why there isn't a list for the female CEOs, because there are --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: But anyway, here we go.
"Fred." Here we go again. I like that.
SHIGLEY: Yes, there you are.
WHITFIELD: I like that.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: OK. And then there are real common denominators here. Worldwide, we saw Jack, and we saw Peter, we saw Bob, we're seeing it again in the U.S., male CEO names.
SHIGLEY: Yes. Again, very familiar kinds of names, nothing too out of the ordinary.
But it begs the question, a lot of this could do with what were the names that were popular when the people who are now CEOs, when they were babies? So it could be just kind of a lockstep of what's popular now. I mean, for all we know, 20 years from now -- you know, Jacob is at the top of the list for boys' names now. That could be the top CEO names, and personally I like Jacob.
WHITFIELD: Which rings very close, that's right, to your little one.
SHIGLEY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Congratulations.
SHIGLEY: Thank you. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: This is your first Mother's Day.
SHIGLEY: It is, yes. Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Happy Mother's Day.
SHIGLEY: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: And we've got a little picture of Jake there, right? And so Jacob's name is a CEO in the making because you said so.
SHIGLEY: I hope so. Or Jake. Go for the short -- he has a nickname, too. We can go for Jake.
WHITFIELD: Oh, how sweet. Oh.
So how is this first Mother's Day feeling?
SHIGLEY: It feels pretty good, yes. It feels good. That was sweet.
WHITFIELD: And it's kind of weird for the first time hearing "Happy Mother's Day." And you're like, do you mean me?
SHIGLEY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Because this is your first --
SHIGLEY: I know. I know.
WHITFIELD: Oh, he's so sweet. Aren't you lucky.
SHIGLEY: Thank you.
Happy Mother's Day to you too.
WHITFIELD: Oh, thanks so much.
Debra Shigley, always good to see you.
SHIGLEY: Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Happy Mom's Day. SHIGLEY: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: And Happy Mom's Day to your mom and all the moms in your life.
SHIGLEY: Yes. Thank you.
Happy Mom's Day, mom.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: All right. Sweet.
OK. So, listen up, moms. Not only do we have the list for you as you try to name your baby-to-be, or on the way. Do you also know where the best and worst places are for mothers? This is really for everybody.
According to the group Save the Children, the best place, Norway. Mom's get generous maternity leave and the country has the lowest infant mortality rate.
Australia, Iceland, Sweden and Denmark round out the top five.
So you know when there's the best of the places, that also means there's a list of the worst places to not be a mom: Niger, Guinea, Yemen, Chad and Afghanistan.
And in case you're wondering, where is the U.S. in all of this? There we are, lucky 31, down from 28 last year.
What's going on?
We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love my dog. I love my mommy this much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, big concerns about flooding as the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers have crested. Our Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center now with more on the follow that comes from that and then how to prevent more potential damage because there are indeed big efforts underway.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. I mean, this is record flooding that we're talking about affecting thousands and likely going to be millions of people as well.
Let's first of all talk about where the worst of the flooding has been, and it's been right up there at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. And now it's going to make its way downstream and it's going take a good week to do that.
We're looking at near record flooding in Memphis, record flooding in Vicksburg, Mississippi as well as Nachess (ph), Riverland and then down towards Baton Rouge. Now notice New Orleans isn't on the map.
So this is the big question mark that we've been talking about, what's going to happen with New Orleans? While they're trying to take measures now to prevent that city from flooding, we've got a series of levees.
This whole system in the lower Mississippi River Valley extends more than 3,700 miles from Cape Gerardo, Missouri stretching down towards Venice, Louisiana. We're going to zoom in here and show you two of these spillways.
So this is kind of similar to what they did up there at the Bird's Point dam where they did the explosion, OK, but these are designed to just open up with the gate system. The Bonnet Carre spillway connects between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain.
And they've already said, yes, we're going to open this thing tomorrow about 8:00 in the morning and it's going to allow this to spill through the six-mile area and move into the lake. And that should relieve a little bit of pressure.
Now the big question that they have beyond that is there is another one of these spillways that is up to the north of Baton Rouge, and we'll zoom over there, and this one is called the Morganza Spillway.
If they open this one up, this is going to cause a lot of damage. It's going to be impacting a lot of far farmland, a lot of cities as well, and it could bring as much as 5 feet to 25 feet of water between Nachiflia (ph) River as well as into the Mississippi River.
So that's what we're going to be talking about. The Corps of Engineers said, yes, we want to do it. It hasn't been approved yet, Fredricka, so we'll continue to watch this developing story so more water releases to try and help improve the situation a little bit downstream.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jacqui. Thanks so much. We'll check back with you.
All right, now the latest on massive flooding that we're going to revisit in a moment. The Mississippi River, of course, it's crested in Memphis, Tennessee as well Tuesday at a near record level.
Upstream they are still dealing with the impacts of high water. CNN's Ted Rowlands is on the phone with us from Cairo, Illinois. That city was spared the worst by the levees that were blown up. Jacqui was referring. So Ted, explain what more you tell us?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Fredricka, the good news is people are back in town here. They're being allowed back into their homes after being evacuated for the last week.
And they're relieved to come back and find that their homes, most of their homes have not been damaged. There are some water in town, but for the most part, people have been spared here, and that is good news.
In Missouri across from the levee that was blown, that's a different story, 130,000-plus acres of farmland continues to be under water. Many farmers lost their not only crops, but their homes, their farmhouses, et cetera, because that levee was blown open.
There are some bad feelings, to be honest, between Missouri and the folks in Cairo, Illinois here. A lot of farmers believe they didn't have to blow this levee, so there is some animosity there and some upset feelings thinking the Corps jumped the gun and that Cairo could have held off on its own.
The banks here or the walls here are up to 65 feet. They blew this levee at 61. The bottom line, the Corps said this was the thing to do, and at least today the people in Cairo are sure happy that it happened and they're happy to be back in their homes.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ted Rowlands. Thanks so much from Cairo, Illinois. Appreciate that update.
All right, old files, resumes, bills, time to clean them out from your computer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, we're following this breaking story out of Albuquerque, New Mexico where there was an inadvertent landing of a plane that was intended from Detroit to San Diego. Why?
We're now learning from sources now that apparently there was a suspicious note that a flight attendant found in the lavatory, and with this abundance of caution now, the pilot divide decided to divert the plane after this note was found and they made this landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We reported a short time while ago, how everyone was taken off the plane, has been interviewed, and of course, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have done the once-over on the plane. We have not yet heard officially from an FBI or even TSA official on where they are on this investigation.
But right now you're looking at a still photograph of the plane, Delta Flight 1706, which landed without incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico after being diverted from its scheduled route from Detroit on its way to San Diego.
And now we're hearing from at least one source, a TSA official, saying that a flight attendant found a suspicious lavatory, alerted the pilot and the pilot made the decision to divert that plane. More information on that as we get it. Meantime, most folks can identify to this. Circling around, looking for an empty parking spot, especially around the holidays. Well, now a new app is helping San Francisco drivers find open spaces through sensors embedded in metered parking spots and parking garages.
So when a spot is vacant, the sensor actually sends a wireless signal. The project is backed by the Transportation Department. Similar projects are already under way in other U.S. cities.
And of course, everyone can identify to this too. It's spring cleaning and that should include all of your gaming and gadget type of things. That's why we call upon our expert Marc Saltzman who says don't forget to clean out your computer.
Sometimes it gets so bogged down with information that it's not going to be as reliable for you. So Marc, help us get going on this spring cleaning, so to speak, on our technology.
MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: You got it, well, first of all, happy Mother's Day, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.
SALTZMAN: I hope you're having a great day. So that's right, instead of having to go out and buy a whole new computer, here are five tips to making it run like new again.
All of these are free, by the way. The first one is to back up your important information. Before you try anything, make sure you take a USB thumb drive you might have in your desk or use a free online password-protected service like Windows Live Sky Drive that gives you 25 gigabytes of free online storage.
And just make a backup of all your irreplaceable photos and documents, because if anything happens, you know, you'll be very upset. While you're trying to spring clean, you can accidentally delete --
WHITFIELD: Yes, that's your safety net.
SALTZMAN: Yes, absolutely.
WHITFIELD: OK, so - then you want to clear the clutter in what way?
SALTZMAN: All right, so go through all your programs and files and whatever you're not use anymore, uninstall them properly. Don't just delete the icon on your desktop, but go to the Control Panel if you're using Windows and properly uninstall programs you've never used.
Many of which were pre-installed on your PC, or if you've got old files. Maybe you went through a Goth music phase in early 2000 and you don't listen to that music anymore, just clear it all out.
And if you have so many icons on your desktop that you can't see the photo behind it anymore, it's time to do some desktop management and make it a little easier on the eyes.
WHITFIELD: All right, and then you scan and fix.
SALTZMAN: Yes, so there is a free tool built into operating systems often called a disk defragger. It's a techie term, but basically what this tool does is it combs through your hard drive and it fixes all those little zeros and ones by reorganizing them and just basically optimizing the performance of your hard drive.
So things will be able to be accessed faster in a more reliable way and free up some extra real estate as well for more files. So just go to if you're using Windows, go to start and then all programs or program files, and under Accessories, you'll see system tools. So definitely use that.
WHITFIELD: And then update your software and then you say you want to protect yourself beyond just the thumb drives?
SALTZMAN: That's right. So definitely you want to always update software whenever there are new releases. Sometimes your PC will automatically tell you or automatically download an update, whether it's to your operating system or to your web browser.
If not, you want to go to the help or the about section of your favorite programs and click on check for updates because not only does that fix common issues and bugs, software bugs and maybe even security vulnerabilities, but also you'll download new updates that add more functionality.
And then the last step, yes, is to also make sure you have anti- virus and what we call anti-malware software. Just as you wouldn't leave your front door or your home open when you're not there, you want to protect your computer against the bad guys on the internet. All those malicious types out there that want to steal information for financial gain.
WHITFIELD: All right, Marc Saltzman, thanks so much. Appreciate it for helping us protect our gadgetry and all the information that maybe on our computers before we get that spring cleaning bug. And happy Mother's Day to your wife.
SALTZMAN: Thank you, thank you. I'll pass it on.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Marc. Appreciate it.
All right, a potential presidential candidate who is particularly outspoken heads for New Hampshire this week. Who is it? Find out after the break.
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WHITFIELD: Health care and presidential politics will make the headlines this week. CNN's Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser has this look ahead.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: A new fight in the battle over healthcare reform. Tuesday, the first of those lawsuits against the new measure makes its way to the federal appeals court. The case will be heard in Richmond, Virginia. The legal war over the controversial law is expected to eventually end up in Supreme Court.
The same day the president is in El Paso, Texas to speak out on how to fix what the White House calls the nation's broken immigration system. Illegal immigration is a hot topic and Hispanic-Latinos are an important and growing voting group.
That's where Donald Trump will be on Wednesday. The billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star makes his second trip in the past couple weeks to the state and holds the first primary in the race for the White House. Trump says he will decide by June if he'll make a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
And expect Newt Gingrich to make some news this week. A spokesman for the former House speaker said by the time, Gingrich speaks at the Georgia GOP convention on Friday, he'll be a candidate for president. Fred?
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. For the latest political news, you know exactly where to go, cnnpolitics.com.
All right, it's been four months since tennis great Venus Williams played in a tournament, is she ready to make a comeback?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Would you have your druthers whether you would be more anxious to be on the clay court of the French or the grass of Wimbledon?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say I would be more anxious to be on a clay court in the grass.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: That jokester. My face-to-face interview with Venus Williams, next.
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WHITFIELD: Tennis star Venus Williams turns 31 years old next month. Returning to a grand slam tournament would be the perfect birthday present. Perhaps that's why this week she signed up for the east born international in the U.K.
The early June event is considered sort of a warm-up for Wimbledon. Venus tells me face to face that she's nursing a muscle injury carefully and knocking down any rumors that she's considering retirement any time soon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Four months ago, Venus Williams was at the Australian open, doubling over in pain, making an early exit. Now back at home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, all of 6'2 inches of her standing tall, relaxed, seemingly taking it all in stride. I met up with Williams at her favorite practice courts. She tells me face to face she's upbeat.
(on camera): What is this injury, specifically?
VENUS WILLIAMS, TENNIS CHAMPION: I tore about three inches in my muscle.
WHITFIELD: Is this a groin injury?
WILLIAMS: Yes, it's a muscle that runs from the groin straight through the stomach, so a pretty severe tear.
WHITFIELD: Where do you feel that you are?
WILLIAMS: I think right now --
WHITFIELD: At 50, 60, 70, 80.
WILLIAMS: I think, you know, 70, 80 percent.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Not quite ready to do this again. Not yet.
WILLIAMS: I just go lightly and try to pay attention to my doctor's advice and just keep re-evaluating week by week. I do get better week by week.
WHITFIELD: She admits it's frustrating being sidelined.
(on camera): You like to win.
WILLIAMS: I love to win. Not just like. It's addictive.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): But as much as she misses competing --
(on camera): So do you dare go to any of these tournaments when you're not playing?
WILLIAMS: I've been playing for 17 years. I've been to a good amount of tournaments. I don't necessarily like being a spectator. I've kind of drawn the line now like I can't watch anymore because I deserve to be out there.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Will she be ready for this month's French open or June's Wimbledon?
(on camera): Would you have your druthers whether you would be more anxious to be the clay court of the French or the grass of Wimbledon?
WILLIAMS: I would say that I'd more anxious to be on the clay court and grass. That wasn't your question. WHITFIELD (voice-over): Professional tennis hasn't been the same without her. Absent? Her more than 100-mile-per-hour serves, her show stopping personally designed outfits, the hits, and the misses.
WILLIAMS: This is the most famous French Open dress exposed.
WHITFIELD: Talk about exposed. What about those flesh-toned bloomers that caused such a stir?
WILLIAMS: The nude bloomers. I think they've officially been retired.
WHITFIELD (on camera): They have?
WILLIAMS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You're a girly girl, too, right?
WILLIAMS: I am a girly girl. I'm a tough girly girl.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): She keeps a sense of humor. Williams is recovering, but the winner of 21 grand slam titles and three Olympic medals is far from retiring.
WILLIAMS: No, I'm definitely at the top of my game and had a couple injuries lately that have been some bad luck.
WHITFIELD: Among the opponents she can't wait to take on again, her 29-year-old sister, Serena recovering from her own medical scare, a pulmonary embolism just two months ago.
WILLIAMS: Thankfully Serena was able to get treatment so that way she can go on to lead a healthy, happy life.
WHITFIELD: And to anyone who ever doubted their genuine competitiveness in eight grand slam finals, it's complicated, but very real, she says.
WILLIAMS: There was one year, maybe '08 where I was playing. We had to play each other in the Wimbledon final and we had to play the semi-final the day before.
And I sprained my thumb so bad that I really couldn't hit a backhand, but I couldn't tell her that in the doubles because she would know it in the finals. So I decided to suck it up like nothing was wrong.
WHITFIELD: This time on her return, Venus Williams wants everything to be right.
(on camera): We can't wait until you're back on the court.
WILLIAMS: Me, neither.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: More face-to-face with Venus Williams at 4:00 Eastern today on this Mother's Day, Venus' recommendations for parents raising athletic kids.
And this next person, well, she's serenaded as the future king of England and his new wife. Now this British pop star is showing off her pipes to a big American audience.
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WHITFIELD: She had serenaded Prince William and his new wife, Duchess Katherine, at their royal wedding reception. Well, now Ellie Goulding is winning over American audiences.
All right, she made her debut to American audiences from the New York stage of SNL, "Saturday Night Live," last night. You'll likely be hearing more of her.
Coming up next on "YOUR MONEY," funding terrorism. Where does al-Qaeda get its money? Then 4:00 Eastern time, more of the NEWSROOM and more of my face-to-face conversation with tennis great Venus Williams who says sometimes losing is nearly as impactful as winning.
