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Where Is Moammar Gadhafi?; Bin Laden's Sons Speak Out

Aired May 11, 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: And good afternoon to all of you. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Here is what we have got going on this next two hours. CNN has just gotten some new information about how American authorities are now sifting through the piles and piles of bin Laden evidence they have collect from his compound in Pakistan.

Also, bin Laden's sons today accusing the U.S. of assassinating their father.

A lot of questions to sort through, but, first, I want to start this newscast with another question about another infamous man, one we have not heard from in a couple of weeks here. Where is Moammar Gadhafi? Consider this. He has not been seen publicly since the NATO airstrike on his compound, count them, 12 days ago.

Gadhafi, by the way, was in the compound at the time of that strike. Now, you talk to his supporters, they say he is fine. Even Libyan television aired video of him they say was taken after the airstrike. But CNN has not been able to confirm that it was in fact shot afterward.

One of his sons, three of his grandsons were killed in that particular attack, but Gadhafi was a no-show at their funerals. Now, Libyan officials say that that was simply out of security concerns.

So, the big question, still, is he dead or is he alive? NATO doesn't seem to know or to care. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. CLAUDIO GABELLINI, NATO SPOKESMAN: We have no evidence about what Mr. Gadhafi is doing right now. And I tell you the truth. We are not really interested in what he is doing. Our mandate is to protect civilians from the attacks and from the threat of attacks, so we are not looking after individuals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: CNN's Sara Sidner is in Benghazi, the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

And, Sara, my question, speaking of Moammar Gadhafi here, as we have said, it has been 12 days since he's been seen publicly. Allegedly, according to the government, that was after the airstrike. He's been awfully quiet. Where is he?

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is a question that no one here certainly knows the answer to.

There are a lot of people speculating about what has happened to him. People were speculating that he was not well, some speculating that something worse than that has happened to him. And, as you mentioned, Libya's prime minister is quoted as saying that he has not been seen, he is in mourning after the death of his family members, his son in particular.

But there is growing speculation, because when you don't hear from him -- we certainly heard from him after that airstrike that hit the compound in Tripoli. Since then, there have been other airstrikes and more victories claimed by the rebels. So a lot of people wondering why they are not hearing anything from Colonel Gadhafi as this sort of revolution continues.

So, it is a big, big question mark. But, as you heard there, NATO saying, look, we don't know what has happened to him. We don't know what his condition is. We have also not heard from him and that they are saying they are not concentrating on that. What they are concentrating on is trying to make sure that civilians are safe.

As far as the rebels, they would love to know where he is, but those are for completely different reasons. People here talk about Gadhafi and they talk about wanting to kill Gadhafi. And that is their aim. They want to either get him out of the country or kill him.

So, as you might imagine, he may be keeping his head down, so to speak, because there is a lot of anger in this country towards him. But, yes, a lot of people wondering exactly what has happened with him and where he is and why they have not seen or heard from him since April 30.

BALDWIN: Sara, what about just checking back here in on this story that we have really covered consistently for weeks and weeks? In terms of the momentum, how do the rebels there in Benghazi feel? Is the Gadhafi regime, albeit we don't know if he is dead or alive, is it at all crumbling?

SIDNER: Here in Benghazi, what you are hearing from people is -- are very high hopes. There are a lot of people showing up to become part of the revolution who want to take part in it. They are still complaining that they don't have weapons to give these men who are showing up. And these are men from all different parts of society showing up, trying to become a fighter in this revolution.

But in the last few days, there have been some developments. The town of (INAUDIBLE) which is about 200 miles south of Benghazi, the rebels say they are able to secure that town. They also today, in what they say is a very important victory, were able to secure the airport in Misrata.

Misrata is really where they are concentrating right now. And they were able to secure that airport, take it from Gadhafi forces. And so there is a lot of celebration concerning that. And they are really focusing on Misrata, saying that they really believe that that is a very, very important city, and without taking that over, they really can't finish the job.

So, there is a lot of high hopes here, but, still, it does seem to be an impasse in parts of the country. You are not seeing the kind of fighting you were in places like Ajdabiya. The front line really at this point, Brooke, I think is Misrata.

BALDWIN: Well, back to your point about the airport there in Misrata, and we have talked a lot about Misrata -- that's where a couple of journalists were killed.

Specifically, there is the port there where a lot of these aid ships are coming in to rescue some of these refugees and get them out. But why is that so significant that the rebels now have control of that airport? Help us paint the bigger picture.

SIDNER: It is the location partly. It is closer to Tripoli. And every step they can get closer to Tripoli, they believe, is a big step.

But the airport in particular, because the port was so heavily damaged, they are hoping that the airport can now be used in time for bringing in more supplies, for bringing in more help and aid to the people there, so, significant if that can happen. We do know that there is a ship from the International Red Cross that has gotten into the port.

And we do know there was a ship last week that was able to bring out about 800 people from inside Misrata. And the stories they are telling, Brooke, are absolutely horrific, what they are seeing in the streets, dead bodies in the streets, that they are unable to retrieve family members because of the shelling that is coming from the outside of the city.

So, for the rebels to be able to say that, look, we think we have taken over the airport and they feel like they have secured part of that city, it -- to them, it is a very big deal.

BALDWIN: Very significant. Sara Sidner, thank you so much for just putting the perspective on the story there in Libya from Benghazi. Thank you.

And now to this. He may have been one of the world's most wanted men, but keep in mind he was also a father. And now the sons of the Osama bin Laden accuse the United States of violating international law by killing an unarmed man, even going as far as calling it an assassination.

Their accusation was prepared by a lawyer. It was signed by bin Laden's son Omar. And he says Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein were tried in courts of law, but their own father was denied that presumption of innocence.

Want to go to Deborah Feyerick. She has been following this story for us here at CNN today.

And, Deb, how is the United States reacting to these myriad accusations?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, they're acting very strongly, because, clearly, the family is alleging that the United States acted improperly. They call this an execution. They say that the U.S. violated international law.

And so the U.S. coming out very strongly saying, uh-uh, not the case. Listen to the White House spokesman, Jay Carney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I have addressed the legal foundation for the actions the president ordered. We feel very strongly that the successful mission against a mass murderer of Americans and people around the world was entirely justified.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And the White House has presented its argument to why in fact it was justified. They have done that all along. A U.S. official says today that in fact it was correct under the U.N. Charter, the right to self-defense under Article 51.

So -- but, again, it is a pretty -- there's a lot of bravado in the statement that was released by the bin Laden sons, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And it was released by the bin Laden sons. We know Omar specifically identifies himself in the statement. What are you learning, Deb, about these sons?

FEYERICK: Well, it is interesting. Omar is the fourth son of Osama bin Laden. There are about 10 of them that we know of. Half of them renounced their father, rejected the father.

But in this letter -- and this is very interesting -- they identify themselves as the lawful children and heirs of Osama bin Laden. And that's how they are speaking out. They want to know whether in fact this man was even their father, the man who was killed in the mansion.

Omar, we know, did condemn his father's violent tactics. He even felt that perhaps there could be a trial, so that he could be tried for humanitarian crimes. That did not happen.

We spoke to Jean Sasson, who originally spoke with Omar bin Laden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN SASSON, AUTHOR, "GROWING UP BIN LADEN": Omar only knew his father as a big hero after the Afghan war and the Russians leaving. And then it -- think about this. One minute, your father is a hero. The next, he is the world's biggest enemy. So the whole thing was very painful for him all of these years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: So, again, you know, it is one thing. They really are speaking out as a family.

They want conclusive proof, Brooke, that in fact he is dead. They have asked for photos or video and they say this could be done either in private or in public. They also want the United States' actions investigated.

As a matter of fact, in part of the letter , they say that -- quote -- they "demand an inquiry into the fundamental question as to why our father was not arrested and tried, but summarily executed without a court of law."

As you mentioned, why wasn't he given -- quote, unquote -- the same courteousness, shall we say, as the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Brooke?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: It's interesting, though. So, they still want the inquiry, yet they are accusing the U.S. of assassinating their father. It seems kind of counterintuitive, but we will leave it there.

Deb Feyerick, thank you very much.

FEYERICK: Of course.

BALDWIN: Now this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All charges, we feel, are ridiculous and absurd. So we are just hoping that the Iranian -- the Islamic Republic of Iran and all facets of the government really come to the recognition that these are two American, innocent hikers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You know this story, two Americans detained nearly two years in Iran after a hiking trek right along the border. Their alleged crime? Espionage. So, why another delay in their trial? I speak with the mothers coming up.

Plus, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA FATTAL, MOTHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: Stressful knowing that we are going to have water coming up and might be in our house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The mighty Mississippi raging toward Louisiana right now, three million acres in its path. Folks who live there, can you imagine, bracing for the worst. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It has been quite a day full of anxiety and frustration for of those two American hikers accused of espionage in Iran. Their trial was delayed yet again today. No one seems to know why.

And according to a Swiss diplomat, both Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were not even brought into the courtroom today.

Keep in mind there was a third hiker, Bauer's finance, Sarah Shourd, who was arrested with the men back in 2009. Sarah was released on bail last year and refuses to return to Iran for the trial.

Now, Iran says all three hikers crossed into the country illegally. The U.S. State Department is pressing for more information about today's trial delay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK TONER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We are hopeful that the Iranian government will recognize the fact that these individuals have been held now for nearly two years. They have not been charged formally. And -- and that they should be on humanitarian grounds and that we're hopeful that that message has gotten through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: As a result of delays today, the families of Bauer and Fattal did release this statement.

Let me read it for you. They say -- quote -- "We are even more deeply concerned for their health and welfare as a result of their nonappearance."

And just yesterday, I got a chance to speak with the mothers of both Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. They have been waiting -- and, yes, they're counting -- 650 days now. The uncertainty over their sons' futures is gut-wrenching for them, but they hold out hope that Iran will show some sort of compassion for their sons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Obviously, you are hoping for their release, but, on the other side here, if Iran decides that Josh and Shane didn't just wander into Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan on, as they say, their hiking vacation, what would your next move be then?

Laura to you. Who do you call? Who is your first phone call?

LAURA FATTAL, MOTHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: Well, you know, the one-year detention, which is the sentence for illegal entry into a country, has already been more than served. Josh and Shane are in jail for 21 months. So, you know, if they entered illegally into Iran, they have more than served their sentence. And, so, all charges, we feel, are ridiculous and absurd. So, we are just hoping that the Iranian -- the Islamic Republic of Iran and all facets of the government really come to the recognition that these are two American, innocent hikers that they have detained more than enough.

BALDWIN: So, do you think that this story really -- really, it's so much bigger than Josh and Shane and Sarah? This is really country vs. country? And how does that make you feel if that is the case?

FATTAL: We feel terrible. We -- this has been a time of enormous anguish, enormous desperation. Our kids are in isolation from any other prisoner. We don't get to speak to them more than two five-minute phone calls over 21 months. This has been a terrible situation. We want it to end.

BALDWIN: Cindy, have you gotten everything you have needed thus far in this entire ordeal from the U.S. government? Have they done enough for you?

CINDY HICKEY, MOTHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: You know, when Shane and Josh are home, we will know enough has been done.

But the real message here is, Iran needs to quit playing games with Shane and Josh and our families. This is political. They need to take this out of the political arena. Our families have been devastated. Shane and Josh are 28. They need to be out doing what they do for the world, and get on with this.

We were told -- Sarah actually was told two months into the interrogation by her interrogator, it does not matter if you are innocent. We are going to stop interrogations. This has become political.

So, it is obvious. It has been stated to her.

BALDWIN: When is the last time, Laura, you spoke with Josh?

FATTAL: It was Thanksgiving weekend. It was the Saturday. It was a five-minute phone call. My husband got on. And we spoke. But we know Josh was being watched and listened to, but we gave him great hope. And we just told him we are working as hard as we can to get him home. And he was more than eager to feel that his release was soon.

BALDWIN: Cindy, to you. What about Shane? When is the last time you spoke?

HICKEY: Again, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I had a five- minute call.

The other point that I want to make is he -- Shane and Josh have not yet met with their attorney, who has tried very hard, who is being very courageous, have not yet sat down with their attorney going into the second trial. The unjustness of this situation is ridiculous. BALDWIN: Why not? What is the explanation? Is any explanation being offered to you or to their attorney?

HICKEY: No. They were told in the first trial that, yes, he would get his time with Shane and Josh. There is always a, yes, we need to do it in time, it will happen in time. And it never happens.

We -- we are not given any reasons. We are in a black hole. Our communication is very slim.

BALDWIN: How hopeful are you that -- that Iran will share that compassion and that your son and Laura's son will get to come home?

HICKEY: Well, we always -- we are mothers. We are families. We always hold out hope.

However, again, we have no indication of how this is going to go. So, we sit with the support of everyone that is gathered. We know the world is watching. Iran knows the world is watching. So, we are hopeful that they will do the right thing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: My thanks to Cindy and Laura for talking to me.

Meanwhile, as of right now, the attorney for Bauer and Fattal says he is unsure when a new trial will be set. He is waiting now for a letter from Iran's court. We will stay on it.

Coming up: fallout from a sudden about-face. After saying it would allow same-sex marriages the green light, the Navy now has a new take on this one. We're going to share that with you.

Plus, it is a likely go for Gingrich, but could the former House speaker really shake up the race for president? My guest coming up says, you better believe it. He will tell us why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Here's a look at some of the top stories this hour.

Security forces in Yemen opened up fire on a crowd of protesters in two different cities today. We are hearing at least three people were killed, dozens more injured. This is all according to a medical spokesperson there. Some medical staff believe security forces are aiming for a massacre there in Yemen. The protesters were chanting "One more week left for you, Saleh." They say, if the president does not step down, they will march on his palace.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is set to announce he's running for president. This morning, Gingrich told reporters there on Capitol Hill he would announce at 9:00 p.m. via FOX News and the Internet. Later, though, his campaign told us the official announcement will happen this afternoon.

In just a few moments, we will be talking to a former Gingrich spokesman, Rich Galen.

And the Navy does an about-face on same-sex marriages. Last month, a memo from the Navy's chief of chaplains would have allowed gays to marry on military bases, that is, after the Pentagon fully scraps its don't ask, don't tell policy. Be now a new memo is suspending the guidance until further policy and legal review.

For the fourth time this week, a commercial passenger flight in the United States has been disrupted. The most recent one? A Delta flight from Orlando to Boston. A passenger tried to open up an emergency door mid-flight, had to be restrained. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The plane landed safely in Boston last night.

And now this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN ALL-PLATFORM CORRESPONDENT: Floodwaters are actually pushing this boat downriver about three miles quicker than it usually would. That's got this captain of the boat somewhat nervous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You have to see this, folks. Coming up next, we are going to give you a view of the Mississippi's floodwater like you have never seen from, where else, on board a towboat. We are traveling live. You just saw Patrick Oppmann. He is on live on the Mississippi River. We will take you there. You do not want to miss this. Stay put.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Right now, it is tough along the Mississippi, tough times for people who have already lost their homes to a rising Mississippi River, tough decisions for the people in charge of opening all those floodgates, saving some homes, submerging others.

The mighty Mississippi is setting records, as the crest rolls south, the second highest level ever in Vicksburg, the highest ever in Natchez, Mississippi, 58 feet. And it is expected to rise yet another six feet over the course of the next week-and-a-half.

Checking in downriver, you go near Morgan City, Louisiana, folks there doing what they can to try to keep that river in check. People living in one neighborhood held a sandbag party. That's what they're calling it down there along the bayou near their homes. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stressful knowing that we are going to have water coming up and might be in our house. So, we are just trying to prepare.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am worried because I am pregnant and in my new job. And my family, my old man is offshore. He's not here to help me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: There is another tough decision coming up -- we have talking about this the last couple of days -- whether to open the Morganza Spillway. That's north of Baton Rouge. It could happen this weekend.

If it does, it would send floodwaters rushing toward Morgan City and a large area right around there, but it would take the pressure off of those levees around Baton Rouge and it would keep the river also from rising as high in New Orleans. That's a city one woman calls -- quote -- "the last place on earth that needs more high water."

Let's go down to CNN's Patrick Oppmann. He is smack-dab in the middle of that rising water. He is on a Mississippi River towboat between -- somewhere between Vicksburg, Mississippi, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Patrick Oppmann, this is cool stuff here. I know that the tugboat captain, he's been doing this for 35 years, does not even recognize the river. Is that right?

OPPMANN: That's absolutely right. It is a very different Mississippi.

The barge company that runs this towboat that we are on, the Canal Barge Company, runs these towboats up and down this river. They have got 20-plus of these boats. But they have never had a ride quite like this one that we are on and we will be on for the rest of the day, I have been on most of the day.

And that is because you can't see most of the Mississippi River. You can't see the banks, Brooke. The river just goes into the tree line behind us on and then goes in some spots for miles, reaching some homes, flooding some homes. So, it looks like more of a lake than a river. It is a very different towboat for this company.

Usually -- you can see off here -- they usually have about 20 of these barges that will push down to load up, drop off goods. They only have about nine, Brooke. And that is because that is about as much weight as they want to carry. There's about Mack trucks in each barge worth of goods.

With the added weight and that huge floodwater pushing us down the river, it is just too dangerous for them to carry that much load. So the concern is that they don't want to have that speed that could cause damage to -- cause damage to a bridge, so they're turning a lot less.

That means a lot of goods (AUDIO GAP) expecting to be delivered that would go to gas stations, would go to farms just aren't being delivered. Another issue is, usually, they would run these boats at night. When we arrived in Vicksburg this morning, the boat had expected to leave a lot earlier than it did because, quite frankly, the Coast Guard does not want them going under bridges.

They're going about four miles faster than they usually would. And that's just all because of these floodwaters pushing us down. We just learned a few hours ago, Brooke, that actually (AUDIO GAP) going to Baton Rouge today. Because of that issue (AUDIO GAP) bridges at night in the dark, they don't want us going into Baton Rouge tonight.

So, we have just found out that we will be spending the night on this boat. My producer...

(CROSSTALK)

OPPMANN: ... told myself and the crew they're going to take care of us (AUDIO GAP) get off in the morning.

But, as you can imagine, it is affecting things both big and small, including the CNN crew that is on this -- that is on this towboat.

BALDWIN: Now, hang on there. Hang on there, Patrick Oppmann. That means you get to look up at the beautiful stars there above the Mississippi River.

But I want to get back to a point you made, and that was about the pace of this barge. I understand the river is running so fast, and, obviously because of the flooding, but because of that, the captain there has had to change the way -- how he runs the thing.

OPPMANN: Absolutely. They are actually putting the boat in reverse at some points to slow down, because this wall of water that is pushing us down the river is just so strong. They never felt anything like it. Remember, 35 years of operating a tow boat like this, and never felt anything like it.

So, you know, it says that you respect a river like this, but no one who operates on this river has seen this in their lifetime. He feels very lucky, but he is taking a very healthy attitude and respectful attitude towards this river because it is just a force of nature that is like nothing else they have felt before in the many, many years of operating on the river, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Patrick, one more question for you, and let me put on the news nerd hat and ask, this is pretty cool -- you are live on a boat on the Mississippi River. How are you pulling that off, may I ask?

OPPMANN: On a wing and a prayer.

(LAUGHTER)

We have been working on that all day long. We have got some amazing people. You know in Atlanta we call them digital news gathering and this is cutting edge and you won't see this anywhere else in the world, Brooke. And we are very lucky because it is a curvy river, and so when we get to a river, we will lose the shot, and get it back on the straight away. BALDWIN: Well, I think my producers were holding their breath, and they can release because we got you here. Patrick, enjoy the stars, and we'll see you next hour.

And so the rising waters on the Mississippi River is also closing casino after casino. Yesterday we showed you all those aerial pictures. Remember all the flooding in the popular gambling city Tunica, Mississippi? Today our own Casey Wian heads south to Vicksburg. Casey, to you.

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, already this flood is heading south along the Mississippi River has inundated parts of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Over here you can see Diamond Jack's Casino which has been closed for several days.

And on the building farthest out into the river, you can see what looks like a window, but it is a door four or five feet underwater. And this river is not expected to crest here for another week or so, and the water is expected to rise another four to five feet. This casino is expected to be closed for about a month.

Over here you can see one of the local businesses, a marine and industrial supply business that has set up sandbags in the last couple of weeks to try to prevent it from being swamped. There is also a barrier there. With the river expected to rise another four or five feet, and we don't know if it is enough to hold back the incredible flow.

Also the Army Corps of Engineers has been working diligently in the back waters and the levees to try to fortify those structures. One of the things that I are doing is to lay miles and miles of heavy duty plastic sheeting on the back side of the levees. That way if the water does overtop those levees, they say it will stop the erosion and the levees from collapsing and perhaps save some of the farmland.

What they are predicting is that the water level here is going to exceed the record level in 1927. During that massive flood 500 people died and more than a half million were displaced out of their homes. The Army Corps of Engineers says they don't expect anything like that this time, particularly because that levee system is in such better shape this time. Brooke?

BALDWIN: Casey Wian, thank you very much along Mississippi.

And he is a familiar face in national politics, bug do folks know the real Newt Gingrich? Coming up next, his strategy to win the White House next year. Here is a hint -- he is getting personal. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Newt Gingrich at some point today will be throwing in his hat into the ring as a full-fledged candidate for president, we think. Keep in mind that back in March Gingrich raised expectations he would announce a little something here in Atlanta, and a bunch of reporters followed him around, and announced that he had a Web site. So fast forward 10:38 this morning, I give you Newt Gingrich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R) FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: Watch at 9:00 tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When are you going to announce?

GINGRICH: 9:00 tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Facebook?

GINGRICH: Facebook, Twitter and "Hannity."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All at the same time?

GINGRICH: All at the same time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All at the same time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: OK, so you heard the man, an announcement at 9:00 tonight. And now the Gingrich team is saying it will happen this afternoon and we are waiting. Rich Galen, a former Republican strategist and former Gingrich press secretary.

RICH GALEN, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY TO NEWT GINGRICH: Former press secretary.

BALDWIN: Former press secretary. Rich, you know, not to make too much of this, but you are a message guy. We heard, you know, 9:00 and now hearing 2:00 and now it is 3:37 on the east coast, and you are a message guy. What is going on?

GALEN: What is going on is that the only people who matters to are people like you and me. I work for Fred Thompson four years ago and I can remember the barrage of phone calls I got on a daily basis demanding to know the exact second that he was going to formally announce. I said, we are not going the hide it under a bushel basket. When we announce, we want you to know about it.

And it turned out that Fred did it on the Jay Leno show, which also, by the way, as a cautionary tale to the Gingrich team, that was the high point of Fred's campaign.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: But Newt Gingrich will be doing this via Facebook and Twitter.

GALEN: And via "Hannity."

BALDWIN: Neither here nor there.

GALEN: But that is the core of it. I think what he is trying to get to, and I think they this is a good strategy for him, is to demonstrate that he is a candidate of the 21st century. He is not sending out faxes and not sending out beepers. He is using Facebook and Twitter.

BALDWIN: Well, if he is projecting this image of a 21st century candidate, he is 67. We did research. Ronald Reagan was the oldest to assume office and he was 69 at the time. So it does seem like Newt Gingrich has been around forever. Is that a problem at all when a lot of voters out there are looking for a fresh face?

GALEN: Of course it's a problem. But it is a problem they understand. Newt turns 68 next month. But this is not a surprise for the Gingrich campaign because they know how old the boss is.

BALDWIN: But what about the voters?

GALEN: That is the crux of this campaign. The last time Newt made huge political gains and not counting when he retired, but the positive news was 1994, and this is 2011, that's 17 years ago. And for a lot of younger voters you may as well be talking about FDR and the new deal as opposed to the takeover of the United States House of Representatives after 40 years in the election of 1994.

That is I think the crux of the campaign, whether or not he can do it on a consistent basis and convince people that not only does he have really good ideas, which he always does, can he --

BALDWIN: The idea guy.

GALEN: Yes, but can these be ideas that have relevance to the people he needs to energize and get out the younger people who actually go out to get the signatures and do all of the things that in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina.

BALDWIN: That would be up to the people.

But let's talk about another person who is grabbing all kinds of headlines as well, his current wife Calista. She seems to be everywhere including right here smack dab of their main website. Do you know, Rich, what the reason is for that, why she's so front and center? Is she weighing in on policy matters? Why is that?

GALEN: I don't know. I have no idea. I'm not that close. I'm not at all close to the campaign, so I don't know whether she gets to vote on policy or not. That would surprise me.

BALDWIN: Is it a good move the put her out there front and center?

GALEN: It's a plus and minus. The obvious plus is that he wants to demonstrate the commitment to his wife and she is supportive of him, and I think that is OK. I think Newt runs the risk of overplaying that hand.

I was following Newt on Twitter until a month or two ago or however long it was, and I got a tweet saying update from Cali. I didn't want to hear from her, but Newt. So I ended it. BALDWIN: And Rich, let me just say that she is Mrs. Gingrich number three, and he had carried on a lengthy extramarital affair. How do you think that will play out not only from the voters and the social conservatives? And is she ready to step up to answer any questions?

GALEN: Well, I don't know if she has to step up to answer questions, because the first part of the question is a good one. But again, this is not new news. Mother Jones has been writing about this every three months for the last 30 years.

BALDWIN: Well, she could be the first lady, so a lot of people care.

GALEN: Well, remember, Ronald Reagan was the first divorced president and couldn't possibly be elected. Jane Wyman was going to come out of the woodworks and scream bloody murder. But nobody cared. We'll see how that plays out. Clearly for some segment of the Republican base vote this will be an issue, and if it is a big enough issue, they won't vote for him. And if he loses a big important state or an important state like South Carolina or Florida by a little bit, then it may well be that was the difference. If he wins or loses by a lot, then it won't have mattered.

BALDWIN: Rich Galen, we will both be checking our Twitter to see if he announces today. Thank you for coming on. I appreciate it.

GALEN: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And now this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: If President Obama gets reelected, I think that your taxes are going if go through the roof.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: OK, his poll numbers might be down and out, but the Donald is around. Can Trump still eke out an upset in the GOP field? He is trying hard today.

Plus the growing mystery of one of Osama bin Laden's sons. Bin Laden's widows insist that son was inside of the compound during the U.S. raid two Sundays ago, but a body is never found. So where is Hamza bin Laden? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A law enforcement source is telling us that snippets of all of the information seized from Osama bin Laden have now been forwarded by the FBI agents to specifically agents in the field. But here is the thing. That source is also saying that contrary to perhaps what you have heard elsewhere, no new plots have been uncovered to date. The information sent to agents is said to include phone numbers. More fallout today from within bin Laden's family. Reza Sayah has the latest from Islamabad, Pakistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One of Osama Bin Laden's adult sons outraged over the U.S. raid over the bin Laden compound here in Pakistan last week. In a statement that appeared in "The New York Times", Omar bin Laden says he is not going to be convinced that his father is dead until he sees some sort of evidence, perhaps his father's remains.

But bin Laden's son goes on the say that if indeed his father is dead, he has the right to question why U.S. forces executed an unarmed man instead of giving him his day in court. He called that a violation of not just international law, but of U.S. law as well.

He also condemned U.S. forces dumping his body at sea as well as U.S. forces shooting an unarmed woman in the leg. You will recall that according to U.S. officials Navy Seals shot one of bin Laden's widows in the leg.

A little more about Omar bin Laden -- it is believed he lived with his father Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan until the late 1990s when he left. The two had a little bit of a falling out after Omar bin Laden condemned his father's use of violence. But clearly in this particular statement it is the U.S. he is condemning.

A senior U.S. official angrily rejected the allegations in the letter saying that there is an inherent right of self-defense enshrined in the U.S. charter. This is a man, referring to Osama bin Laden, who is a terrorist who has declared war on the United States.

Speaking on behalf of his family, Omar bin Laden is calling on Pakistani officials to release the bin Laden widows and any other family members. He also says that if his questions aren't answered within 30 days, he will be forced to go to the international criminal court.

In the meantime, questions linger about another bin Laden son, and this one Hamza bin Laden. A Pakistani intelligence official is reportedly saying that according to one of the bin Laden widows, Hamza was living in the compound, and now he is missing.

That could mean one of several things. It could mean that Hamza bin Laden left before the raid, escaped during the raid or U.S. forces took him away or it could mean that there is no truth to this matter. U.S. officials deny that they took anyone after this raid. They say that the only things that they took away were bin Laden's remains, some of his computers, his hard drives and some other items, so still a little bit of mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Hamza bin Laden.

Reza Sayah, Islamabad, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BALDWIN: Reza, thank you.

Coming up, switching gears, talking baby boomers. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A lot of you might want to feel young again. But what about the opposite, what about feeling older? There is something called an age simulator suit that can help. It gives the user, shall we say, a little age empathy. It's part of our special focus on baby boomers. CNN's Deb Feyerick puts on the suit and finds out how it feels to get a little older.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEB FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to the age lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. If you want to know what it's like to grow old, this is the place to come.

FEYERICK (on camera): So this is what it feels like to be 75 on a good day. Here we are at the store.

FEYERICK (voice-over): Joe Coughlin runs the lab, the valuable outpost for designers and businesses figuring out ways to cater to aging baby boomers.

JOE COUGHLIN, DIRECTOR, MIT AGE LAB: We found product placement for the things that you most want and most healthy are quite often those that are the hardest to reach.

FEYERICK: Researchers here are figuring out everything from easier shopping to fun ways to stay active.

FEYERICK (on camera): Even for ten minutes it makes you very fatigued.

COUGHLIN: The baby boomers are trying to leave a legacy, to age less.

FEYERICK (voice-over): That includes the kind of homes that baby boomers will choose to live in, reconfiguring spaces.

COUGHLIN: Here at the counter cutting vegetables is going to make you far more fatigued than if you had a counter to sit at.

FEYERICK: And using electronic strips to keep track of medicine.

COUGHLIN: It says you put your pills back without taking them.

FEYERICK (on camera): I did.

COUGHLIN: We're using that type of technology used for the astronauts for the mom in your kitchen. If you think about it, space is an extreme environment and your kitchen is an extreme environment as you age. FEYERICK (voice-over): In America alone there are some 77 million baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. And 70 percent live in rural areas were cars are a lifeline.

COUGHLIN: Are there things that we can do with a car to compensate for reduced flexibility in the neck, blind spot detection, warning systems?

FEYERICK (on camera): So are you, on some levels, trying to turn back time?

COUGHLIN: No, we're trying to make the best use of the time that we have. How do we stay in our homes not just independent but connected as well?

FEYERICK (voice-over): As for me, I'm not ready to get old.

FEYERICK (on camera): I feel 17 again.

FEYERICK (voice-over): Refusing to age without a fight.

Deborah Freyrick, CNN, Boston, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: The tornado victims in Alabama are not forgotten.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARA EVANS, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: It is overwhelming to be here and be seeing this right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Country music star Sarah Evans pitching in down South. She has a special connection to the area that got hit. She's going to join me live. That is ahead.

Plus, Donald Trump talking tough on taxes and President Obama. We will tell you exactly what he's saying today on the stump. Your Political Ticker is next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We are hearing a little bit more about the woman that survived, stuck in her van for 49 days in Nevada. Some hunters came across her standing barefoot near her stranded vehicle. Today we're hearing the call that they placed to 911.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found a lady that has been stuck in her van since March 19th, about dead. Her husband left on March 22nd and never came back. We were out here driving around and came in from wild horse on four wheelers and the roads were washed out. She was stuck in a ditch. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is dispatch. We're sending a medical helicopter up that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Rita Cruitchen got by on jerky, trail mix, fish oil pills, and hard candy. She's in fair condition. She's back home in British Columbia. The hospital says she was enjoying more solid foods like salmon and rice. Crews are back in Nevada still out there searching for her husband. Rita said she last saw him on March 22nd when he left their mud-caked van on foot to try to help.

And now let me take you to Washington to CNN senior political editor Mark Preston joining me now at the CNN Political Ticker. Mr. Preston, no Newt news yet?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: No Newt news, and we're expecting that in a couple of hours. The former House speak of from Georgia is going to announce that he is going to run for president. We're getting a slow start from what it was back in 2007 when we saw all of the Republicans getting in, all of the Democrats getting in. But the presidential field is starting to gel together a little bit.

You know, Brooke, up in New Hampshire, one candidate that we're waiting on is Donald Trump. Is he going to run? Is he stringing us along? He was up there speaking to a business group in Nashua. He had criticism of President Obama, no surprise.

He was also critical of his fellow Republicans, specifically, of Paul Ryan. He's a Wisconsin congressman and also trying to be the architect of the Republican budget. Mr. Ryan is suggesting that perhaps the Medicare program as we know it gets altered to help bring the debt back into -- understanding the debt is out of control.

But as far as President Obama, listen to this warning Donald Trump had today about your taxes, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Do we know --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: If President Obama gets really elected, I think your taxes are going to go through the roof. And I do believe that he's holding them down now as long as he can because he wants to get through this election.

But I said it before, I met with a great group of folks and some of the real community leaders and we had a very frank discussion, and I said, look, if he gets in office, I believe, I honestly believe that your taxes are going to go to a level that they haven't been at in a long time. And that's not going to be good for this country.

That's not going to be good for business. It's not going to be good for New Hampshire. It's going to be good for no one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PRESTON: And there you are, Brooke. There's Donald Trump in New Hampshire speaking before a business group. He said, by the end of the month, he will tell us whether he is running for president -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: It's a bit of a waiting game, isn't it, for some of these guys, huh, Mark Preston?

PRESTON: Yes.

BALDWIN: That makes your job interesting, I guess.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Mark, thank you very much.

We will get another quick "Ticker" update for you in about half- an-hour.