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High-Profile Split Now Explained; Investigation Into Mass Rape in Libya; Parking Goes High-Tech; Arrest Warrant Sought For Gadhafi; Talk Back Question; Pakistan Finds Ally In China
Aired May 17, 2011 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed.
First, a high-profile split now explained. Arnold Schwarzenegger admits that he is the father of a child outside his marriage to Maria Shriver. The mother is a former member of his household staff, and Schwarzenegger says he didn't reveal the secret to his wife until he left the California governor's office in January.
A little later, I'll ask my guest about powerful politicians who cheat.
The Mississippi River flood surge is nearing a record in Greenville, Mississippi, today. That town is about 90 miles north of Vicksburg. That is where the Mississippi has already topped the historic water level that was set back in 1927.
The river is expected to rise another foot before cresting. Probably, that's going to happen on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF MARTIN PACE, WARREN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI: This speaks to the tragedy here. This is an elevated home. This home is probably 10 feet off the ground.
And, you know, they thought that they would be OK. You see the children's toys on the porch, but even the elevation has not prevented damage from this flood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: An attorney says IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has an alibi and couldn't have attacked a hotel housekeeper. The lawyer says that Strauss-Kahn was at lunch during the time that he's accused of sexual assault. Now, he says that Strauss-Kahn's lunch partner is going to come forward to vouch for him. For now, the IMF boss is at New York's Rikers Island until a hearing set for Friday.
Well, we expect to hear from President Obama and his guest. That is Jordan's King Abdullah. That is happening this hour.
The two are meeting at the White House right now against a backdrop of revolution that is happening in the Middle East and North Africa. President Obama has an address Thursday to outline the U.S. point of view of the political changes that are sweeping the Middle East.
Senator John Kerry says that he has now convinced Pakistan to return the tail of a damaged U.S. helicopter. The chopper clipped a wall, and that happened during the raid that killed Bin Laden. Experts say it was a modified Black Hawk with stealth technology that cuts noise levels and evades radar. Pakistan hinted that China wants to see it.
The International Criminal Court at The Hague is investigating rape as a weapon in the Libyan civil war. Now, the court's chief prosecutor tells CNN that the Libyan regime may be giving security forces Viagra to facilitate mass rape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, ICC PROSECUTOR: There are rapes. The issue is, who organized them?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And you believe it's institutional?
MORENO-OCAMPO: They were committed in some police barracks where the policemen. Were the policemen prosecuted? What's happened? There is some information with Viagra. So Viagra is a tool of massive rapes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Someone put a bomb on a Dublin-bound bus today ahead of a historic visit by Queen Elizabeth. Now, bomb experts managed to diffuse it. The queen today became the first British monarch to visit an independent Ireland. The queen wore a sweeping emerald green cloak to greet the Irish president.
More details now on the admission by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that he fathered a child outside his marriage. The admission comes just days after Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced that they were getting separated.
CNN's Casey Wian joins us live from L.A.
And Casey, what do we know about this particular case? What do we know about the mother of the child that we are learning today?
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not much about the mother, other than that she was an employee of the Schwarzeneggers for 20 years and retired from their employ in January.
Now, Suzanne, during Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's -- or former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's controversial two terms as governor of the state of California, he often seemed like he was acting, and it turns out he was. He is acknowledging that before he ran for office in 2003, he fathered a child with a member of his household staff. In a statement, Schwarzenegger said, "After leaving the governor's office, I told my wife about this event which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children, and my family. I am truly sorry."
The story was first reported by the "Los Angeles Times" and has now been confirmed by CNN.
And as we mentioned, the woman worked for the Schwarzeneggers for about two decades, and the governor says he has been providing financial support for the child. Only a week ago, Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced they had separated after 25 years of marriage.
At that time, the couple said they were working on the future of their relationship. Today, Shriver released a statement saying, "This is a painful and heartbreaking time. As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment."
Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, Casey, we certainly wish the family the very best during their time of healing. Thank you, Casey.
Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Is hyper-partisanship driving good candidates out of the presidential race?
Our Carol Costello is here with more.
Carol, what do we think?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, here it goes.
Republican presidential contenders are dropping like flies, and party insiders are scrambling, begging Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and New Jersey's Chris Christie to get into the race. Christie said no way, and Daniels hasn't exactly sounded enthusiastic.
Maybe it's because they don't have the stomach for it. Those candidates that are likely to run are backing away from their more moderate views like Mitt Romney, who says as governor of Massachusetts, his health plan was nothing like President Obama's.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What we were doing in our state was quite different than that. It was a more modest proposal, if you will. And that was, we're not having government take over and run health care. Instead, we're trying to find a way to get people in our state that didn't have insurance insured. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Tim Pawlenty apologized for supporting cap and trade as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, all to appeal to the extreme right wing of party, those voters who decide primaries.
CNN contributor and Independent John Avlon says running for president is signing up to have your reputation destroyed from day one, and that polarization of the parties and the rise of the Internet have created a cannibalistic feeding frenzy.
Maybe that's why Mike Huckabee decided to bow out. His wife warned him it would be brutal. He surely realized that by saying this on Fox --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), FMR. ARKANSAS GOVERNOR: Only when I was alone, in quiet and reflective moments, did I have not only clarity, but an inexplicable inner peace. A peace that exceeds human understanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, the "Talk Back" question today: Is hyper- partisanship driving good candidates out of the presidential race?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll read your comments later this hour.
MALVEAUX: Aren't we just all looking for inexplicable --
COSTELLO: Inner peace?
MALVEAUX: -- inner peace and clarity?
COSTELLO: Wouldn't that be great? I've got to call Mike Huckabee and ask him about that.
MALVEAUX: What happened? What were you thinking?
COSTELLO: How did you achieve that?
MALVEAUX: Yes, exactly.
Carol, thanks.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Can't wait for responses.
Here's a look at the rundown, some of the stories we're covering over the next hour.
Beyond the Schwarzenegger admission, I'm going to talk with a psychologist about powerful people who cheat. The challenges of monogamy, as well.
Also, more on allegations of rape being used as a weapon of war in Libya.
And later, river rising, the scramble to escape the Mississippi floodwaters.
Also, looking for a parking space? There's an app for that now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The app says on this block there should be two spots available. And guess what? There's one of them right there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And finally, details of a big bologna bust on the border.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: NATO launched new airstrikes in Libya earlier this morning. The alliance says it hit command and control and military training facilities in the capital. It also struck radar systems.
Crowds gathered outside the demolished buildings afterwards cheering their embattled leader, Moammar Gadhafi. The Libyan regime says that the NATO strikes hit two government buildings.
Well, Gadhafi's forces are allegedly using rape as a weapon of war, and sexual enhancement drugs may be offered as part of the evidence. It is something the chief international prosecutor is now investigating, and he spoke exclusively with CNN international correspondent Nic Robertson.
Nic joins us live from London.
Nic, first of all, explain to us what the allegations are about and what kind of evidence they're offering.
ROBERTSON: Well, the allegations are that these sexual enhancement drugs like Viagra are being used by Gadhafi's government forces in gang rape against Libyan women. And what the chief prosecutor is going to do, he says, is to begin to investigate this.
But the initial reports came from rebels who said when they went into the military barracks to take Gadhafi's forces weapons, they also found what they described as Viagra tablets, giving this indication that these were being used as part of what they saw as a systematic rape of Libyan women. And that's what the chief prosecutor says he's going to investigate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORENO-OCAMPO: They are rapes. The issue is who organized them? ROBERTSON: And you believe it's institutional?
MORENO-OCAMPO: They were committed in some police barracks, where the policemen prosecuted. What happened? There is some information there was Viagra. So Viagra is a tool of massive rapes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, the chief prosecutor says he doesn't know how many women have been raped in this way, but opposition officials that I've talked to say the number, it could be hundreds of women who have been gang raped by Gadhafi's forces -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Just an awful story. We know that rape as a weapon of war is not unusual, but certainly this evidence that they're bringing forward with Viagra seems to be the new part of this story.
Perhaps the best-known alleged rape victim -- in Libya, that is -- is Eman al-Obeidy, who you spoke with extensively. You, in fact, had the first full interview with her. And what is she saying about all of this?
ROBERTSON: Well, she had a very traumatic escape to get out of Libya in the first place. It took two deserting Libyan army officers to help her get across the border, to smuggle her across the border into Tunisia.
There was fighting at the border when they went across the border. And it wasn't until several days later that she got several thousand miles away, in Doha, Qatar, that she says she began to feel safe, began to feel that Gadhafi's forces weren't going to catch up with her.
She has been living in fear of them since she alleged that she was raped. And I asked her about that terrible incident and ordeal that she went through. She said that she was not going to give up on trying to bring these men who did this to her to justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMAN AL-OBEIDY, ALLEGED RAPE VICTIM (through translator): I was telling myself to defy them. These animals cannot slip without punishment. I must speak out no matter how much people would talk about me and would blame me and would ask, how could a Libya woman and a Muslim go on the media and say this? All these things did not matter to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, the chief prosecutor says Eman al-Obeidy could be just one case of all of the others, and that's why he's investigating them. It's a headline issue for him and obviously for the Libyan opposition, and for the women of Libya -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Nic Robertson, thank you very, very much. Thank you. We're going to take a closer look at the case against Gadhafi later this hour. Our Michael Holmes is going to join us to discuss what the International Criminal Court can actually do to bring down a dictator.
And there are also some communities who are seeing the worst of the flooding. That is happening now. In others, the water is inching even higher. We're going to take you to the flood zone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a look at today choices for "Choose the News." Tell us which story you'd like to see by texting 22360.
First, Pakistan's growing alliance with China. We're taking a closer look at what it could mean to the United States in the wake of the Osama bin Laden raid.
Second, details of the special victims unit, officers who arrested the head of the International Monetary Fund.
Also, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was caught on a plane just moments before takeoff from Kennedy Airport.
Third, a country going cashless. South Korea's government is helping residents leave their wallets at home.
So vote by texting 22360. Text 1 for "Pakistan's Alliance with China"; 2 for "Special Victims Unit"; or 3 for "Country Going Cashless." The winning story is going to air later this hour.
Well, you know parking in a big city, it can be brutal, the competition just to get a space. Well, now this job is -- chore may be turning into a high-tech adventure.
Our CNN silicon valley correspondent Dan Simon, joining us to explain -- Dan.
SIMON: Well, hey, Suzanne.
The key to making this technology work begins with what you're seeing right here. This is a sensor embedded here in the street. This can tell whether or not a parking space is free. And that information ultimately gets uploaded to a smartphone app.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIMON (voice-over): Finding a place to park in San Francisco can be a futile effort.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In this neighborhood, it's pretty cut throat. Anywhere in the city, it's pretty tough.
SIMON: So it figures the Bay Area, home to the world's greatest technology companies, would offer an innovative solution. (on camera): Except it doesn't come from industry, but city hall. The city of San Francisco is offering a free iPhone app that can show you in real time how to land a parking spot.
(voice-over): These street sensors determine whether or not the space is free. The info gets uploaded to a central computer and relayed to the app. Fire it up and you can see the map around you. Dark blue means plenty of spots, light blue it's getting tight, red, pretty much forget it.
(on camera): All right. Let's see if we can find ourselves a parking spot.
(voice-over): How well does it work? Sometimes perfectly.
(on camera): The app says on this block there should be two spots available and guess what? There's one of them right there.
(voice-over): Other times, not so much. Still, the city claims its internal testing showed a high level of accuracy.
(on camera): How accurate is it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's about 90 percent accurate.
SIMON (voice-over): Nathaniel Ford runs the city's transportation agency. He says the $20 million project entirely federally funded, is about trying to ease congestion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That helps us speed up our transit system, helps us with greenhouse emissions in terms of automobiles circling around.
SIMON (on camera): The app has been downloaded more than 12,000 times, but there's real concern about whether or not it's creating another problem, California has a no texting law while behind the wheel, and driving while using the app, surely doesn't seem safe.
NATHANIEL FORD, CEO, SFMTA: We do not encourage people and it's not necessary to constantly look down at your device, looking for a parking spot.
SIMON (voice-over): Still considered a pilot project, the city installed sensors in 7,000 of the city's 24,000 metered parking spaces and 12,000 more city owned garages. If it works, look for it to expand here and in another big cities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIMON: But you wonder whether or not there will actually have to be public service campaigns to tell people not to use the app and drive.
In any event, it's estimated that in this city alone, people circling around a block, that accounts for about 30 percent of the congestion. So that's why cities like San Francisco are looking for, you know, cool technology that could help solve one of our most vexing problems every morning -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Dan, a couple of questions here. I mean, obviously, it seems like a good idea, but they still have some kinks to work out. So, you're using your app, you have to be standing there, you can't be driving while you figure out where these spaces are. You either have to be parked already or just out of your car.
Is that right?
SIMON: Well, you can be driving and use it at the same time, but it's obviously not a good idea. It's similar to texting while driving. The app actually flashes a warning when you launch it, says, "Don't use this while you're driving." But, of course, many people will ignore that.
MALVEAUX: And also, how do they know if a space is big enough for your car? Like, you have a big SUV or something. Do they adjust for that at all? Do they know or is that still in the works?
SIMON: It's a good question. But the sensor works well enough that it really doesn't matter what car is parking in that spot. It can tell whether or not it's blocked. And so if that space is free, it will be uploaded to the app, and so it will tell you.
So it doesn't really matter what car you're driving. But you touched on it earlier. We talked about it in the piece. The key is that people sort of use this as a planning tool and not use it while they're driving, because that could really create a hazard.
MALVEAUX: And is this happening anywhere else?
SIMON: It is happening in a few other cities. Fort Worth, Texas, for example, they're trying it out. Los Angeles and West Hollywood, they're giving it a shot. So it's only a matter of time until, you know, major urban centers will employ this technology, as well, because, after all, that's where people have a problem finding a place to park, in urban centers, downtown, places like that.
MALVEAUX: Sure. We all know how much time it takes just to find a parking space these days.
Dan, thank you. Hope it all works out. Appreciate it.
Streets, homes, under water. We're seeing more scenes like this across south-central Louisiana as more floodgates are opened, more evacuations are ordered.
The latest now from CNN's Rob Marciano, along the riverbank.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Suzanne, people who live in this community that are unprotected by the levee have been told to get out. They're not doing that all at one time. They're kind of taking their sweet time. Here is where the river stands now. This is Atchafalaya, and it has come up significantly from yesterday, but it's moving pretty slowly as far as the rise is concerned.
They have opened those spillway gates, the Morganza, 11 of them now. And that water is pouring out of there ferociously. But the Atchafalaya basin is pretty wide, especially as you get south of I-10. It gets into some swampy areas.
But nonetheless, folks who live in Butte La Rose have been told to get out. And folks who live in Morgan City are planning for those oncoming waters.
But there is updated forecasts for that river crest, expected now, in Butte La Rose, to be a full week from today, and Morgan City to be eight days from today. So, a lot of folks up and down the Atchafalaya are taking this wait-and-see game. The folks who live in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, they're certainly breathing a sigh of relief. They're feeling the benefits of these folks, who are being more or less sacrificed, a few of them sacrificed, for the many that live in those highly-populated areas -- Suzanne.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Rob.
And from Arkansas to Tennessee, people are still trying to recover from another disaster. Those, the tornadoes that tore through the Deep South that happened just two weeks ago.
Well, country legend Hank Williams, Jr. is leading an effort to raise money for the victims in this "Impact Your World."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANK WILLIAMS, JR., MUSICIAN: Hi. I'm Hank Williams, Jr. And you can make an impact to help the people of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, that have been totally devastated by the worst disaster in the history of the states.
You have to be here. You just can't describe it.
It's absolutely unbelievable. These cities need not millions. They need billions.
Help is on the way. America can survive and Alabama can survive.
So please join the movement, Impact Your World. Go to CNN.com/impact.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering over the next half-hour. Powerful people who cheat and the challenges of monogamy. You're going to hear from an expert, live.
Plus, a homecoming you don't want to miss.
And later, the effort to bring Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to justice. Does the International Criminal Court even stand a chance?
Also, add another name to the list of high-profile people who admit to having affairs. Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he fathered a child more than a decade ago with a longtime member of his household staff.
Well, joining us to talk about powerful people who cheat and the challenges of monogamy, clinical psychologist and author Jeff Gardere.
Jeff, thanks for joining us here.
JEFF GARDERE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: My pleasure.
MALVEAUX: First of all, I think a lot of people are asking the question, do powerful men or even women have more affairs than those who are not as powerful? Are they more likely to cheat?
GARDERE: I think they may be more likely to cheat if they have had issues with impulse control right from the beginning, before they became powerful, before they became famous or wealthy. The extra stress of being in those very powerful positions, and almost thinking that everyone is equal, but that they're more equal because they have earned this power, and therefore they can act out, maybe, a little bit more.
MALVEAUX: Do you think these are the folks that think, OK -- you know, we hear these very high-profile cases -- I can get away with it, so I'm going go ahead and do it?
GARDERE: I think at the time when they're involved in the affair, or the acting out, or they're acting out, I don't think they're really thinking about the consequences. I don't think they're really thinking about whether they're getting away with it.
They are really moving with the passion or the heat of the moment. Perhaps afterwards, they feel that they may have the money or the power or the people to run interference for them. But I think deep down inside, psychologically, they know eventually they are going to have to answer for their actions.
MALVEAUX: So some of the things, Jeff, the examples that we saw previously when it comes to politicians. You know, President Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich. I mean, the list goes on and on. And people argue, they say, well they think it's relevant, because they say well if you lie about having an affair, you lie to someone who you love, then perhaps they'll be dishonest to everybody else. And they cannot possibly serve the public if that's the situation. Is that actually true? Are people who are dishonest in their relationships necessarily dishonest in other areas like their work life?
GARDERE: Very rarely do people operate in a vacuum, Suzanne. So, what we're finding is that perhaps they can be effective in office or as celebrities, acting or singing or what have you. But at the end of the day, when you are dealing specifically with politicians, their integrity speaks for itself. If they cannot be honest in a personal relationship, then they are going to have some problems with dishonesty in a relationship with the public and, of course, with their work.
MALVEAUX: And, Jeff, since we know that men cheat, women cheat, powerful as well as everyday folks, is this really just a struggle with monogamy?
GARDERE: I think it's a struggle with not just monogamy but with impulse control. Now we see that women, thank goodness, are finally being treated as equals for the most part, so now they are in the same position men have been in for years as far as having a lot of those stressors and having those situations that present themselves where they should act in a more ethical manner. And it becomes difficult for them.
I think at the end of the day, it really is about thinking what the consequences are to the actions, to the pleasure you may be having at the moment. And everyone, whether they're famous or just the average Joe or Jane down the street, they have that struggle.
MALVEAUX: All right. Jeff Gardere, thank you so much for putting it into perspective for us.
We're keeping our eye on another story, as well. We're about to turn some tape. This is President Obama at the White House. He is with Jordan's king Abdullah, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, obviously discussing some of the revolts, the uprising that we have seen in the Middle East as well as North Africa.
I believe that we are now seeing that tape. Let's take a listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States and Jordan have had a longstanding friendship, an extraordinary relationship of cooperation on a wide range of fronts. I have valued His Majesty's advice on numerous occasions. And obviously, this meeting was an opportunity for us to share our views on the extraordinary changes that are taking place throughout the Middle East, throughout the region.
We discussed the situation in Libya and are grateful for the support of a wide range of Arab countries in our efforts to make sure that humanitarian assistance and humanitarian protection occurs inside of Libya. We discussed the rapid transformation that's taking place in places like Egypt and Tunisia. And we both agreed that it's critical that not only does political reform proceed but economic reform accompanies those changes there. Because so much of what's taking place has to do with the aspirations of young people throughout the Arab world for their ability to determine their own fate, to get an education, to get a job, to be able to support a family.
And that means some of the old structures that were inhibiting their ability to progress have to be reworked. His Majesty discussed the reform efforts that are taking place inside Jordan, as well. And we welcome the initiatives that His Majesty has already embarked on and feel confident that to the extent that he is able to move these reforms forward, this will be good for the security and stability of Jordan but also will be good for the economic prosperity of the people of Jordan. And so we're very pleased to support him on that front.
Along those lines, one of the things we discussed is how the United States could continue to be supportive of these economic efforts that His Majesty has embarked on. And so I'm pleased to announce that we have mobilized several hundreds of millions of dollars through OPEC, and that will leverage ultimately about a billion dollars for economic development inside of Jordan.
In addition, because of the huge spike in commodity prices throughout the world, we are going to be providing 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Jordan. All of this will help to stabilize the cost of living and day-to-day situation of Jordanians and will provide a foundation so that these economic reforms can move forward and long- term development can take place. So, we're very happy to be partnering with His Majesty on that issue.
We also discussed the situation with respect to Israel and the Palestinian conflict. And we both share the view that despite the many changes or perhaps because of the many changes that are taking place in the region, it's more vital than ever that both Israelis and Palestinians find a way to get back to the table and begin negotiating a process whereby they can create a -- two states that are living side by side in peace and security.
Jordan, obviously, with its own peace with Israel has an enormous stake in this. The United States has enormous stake in this. We will continue to partner to try to encourage an equitable and just solution to a problem that has been nagging the region for many, many years.
Finally, I just want to say that we continue to appreciate all the security and counterterrorism cooperation that we received from the Jordanians. It is very important in terms of our own security, and that partnership we expect to continue.
So, Your Majesty, you are always welcome here. The American people feel a great affection for the Jordanian people, and we trust that during this remarkable time of transition in the region that Jordan will be at the forefront in being able to move a process forward that creates greater opportunity and ensures that Jordan is a model of a prosperous, modern and successful Arab state under your leadership. So, thank you very much.
KING ABDULLAH II, KING OF JORDAN: Thank you. Mr. President, I'm delighted to be back here. And, again, to take this opportunity to thank you and your government for the tremendous support that you're showing Jordan economically. And the support of the United States and a lot of our friends internationally on really being able to push reform in an aggressive manner in our country. And, again, your continued interest and support on the core issue of the release, which is that the Israeli/Palestinian peace.
We are very, very grateful to the president's role in all of these issues. I am delighted to be back here, and I will continue to be a strong partner to you, sir, in all the challenges that we face in our future (ph).
OBAMA: Good. All right. Thank you very much, everyone.
MALVEAUX: We're watching a brief statements from President Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah. These two leaders fairly personally close since back in 2008 during the campaign, when it was then-Senator Obama who visited Jordan during that time. Both of them pledging what it is they need from their partner.
Critical allies when it comes to the Middle East and Middle East peace. The Jordanians looking for some assurances that the Obama administration still very much committed to Israeli/Palestinian peace. You heard President Obama reassuring him he is.
Also, the United States looking for a partner, a reliable partner in that hotbed in the Middle East there and getting those reassurances from the Jordanian leader.
We'll have more after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Now for stories from across the country. Brian Stowe is now in a San Francisco hospital. He's the Giants fan brutally beaten at Dodgers Stadium last month. Though he is still in critical condition, doctors said he was stable enough to leave Los Angeles. So far, no one has been arrested for the attack.
In Norfolk, Virginia, another homecoming for the ships of the Kiersage amphibious ready group. The crew members left almost nine months ago with humanitarian aid for Pakistan after its devastating monsoon. Some units also took part in combat missions in Afghanistan and Libya.
One day after Endeavour lifts off, the Atlantis heads for the lauchpad one last time. The final mission for the space shuttle program is set for early July.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARMEN WONG ULRICH, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Time now for "The Help Desk" where we get answers to your financial questions.
Joining me this hour is Monisha Tacor, a personal finance author and Doug Flynn, a certified financial planner and founder of Flynn Zeto. Let's get going with the first question from Hinesville, Georgia from Marian. She asks, what are the pros and cons of acquiring a reverse mortgage? Doug, a lot of folks looking into this.
DOUG FLYNN, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER: Well, the pros are that you would have access to the equity in your home without having to leave the home. You would be able to access that cash and not have to sell it to do that. So, whether that's a credit line or monthly income, that's a good thing.
The cons are that they're very expensive, and you can disinherit the children from getting that home. So, quickly, for instance, if let's say you take $100,000 on a $200,000 house as a reverse mortgage, whether you take it monthly or by access. Instantly, you might owe $120 because of the fees, and then it compounds in a phantom way without you actually paying it back. One day, that $120,00 is going to cross the $200,000 value of the home.
Once that happens, you can stay in it, but there's nothing left for the kids. And so it's a way that you might end up selling the house for $100,000 and not realizing it. So, it has a need, but you have to be very careful.
ULRICH: Got to be very careful. Do your research.
OK, we've got a question from Aaron in North Wales, Pennsylvania. Aaron asks, "I currently have $5,700 on a credit card with a 30 percent interest rate. Ouch. And I have $3,000 on another credit card at around 18 percent. Now, my credit score came in at 720. But I can't get approved for a personal loan at a bank or get a lower interest credit card, because my credit utilization is considered too risky. Do I have any alternatives to pay off this debt at a lower interest rate?"
Monisha, he's kind of backed into a corner.
MONISHA TACOR, PERSONAL FINANCE AUTHOR: Yes, although, Carmen, I was so glad to hear that last part of the question that Aaron wants the money to pay down that credit card debt. Because those interest rates are incredibly high. Even at 18 percent, which sounds low compared to the 30. If Aaron has a three percent minimum payment, he is paying double, you know, 20 bucks out for beer and pizza costs him $40.
ULRICH: Wow.
TACOR: So the interesting thing is, he's clearly been very financially responsible, as evidenced by that 720 credit score. So ironically, what he may want to do is actually ask for an increase in his credit limit to reduce his credit utilization ratio to be able to procure a lower interest rate loan to pay off that higher interest rate credit card debt. But this is all predicated on the fact that Aaron commits firmly to getting out of debt.
ULRICH: Yes, it seems like he's going to make that commitment. Thank you guys so much for that. Now, do you have a question that you want us to answer? Send an e-mail anytime to the CNNHelpDesk@ CNN.com.
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MALVEAUX: International Criminal Court wants a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity. But will that be enough to stop Moammar Gadhafi? Michael Holmes is here to go beyond the headlines and deeper into the case against the Libya dictator.
And what would this mean if they had actually issued some sort of warrant for his arrest?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, to be honest, not a lot, because they're going to ignore it. They're going to ignore it.
Let's talk about the ICC for a second. This is an independent organization. It's not part of the United Nations, although the U.N. does refer cases to it. It's located in the Netherlands, established specifically to address cases of war crimes, that sort of thing, in the global community. Their request is for warrants, not only for Moammar Gadhafi, but that guy right there. That's his son. Also, his brother-in-law, who's one of the intelligence (INAUDIBLE).
Now, the ICC says there is clear evidence that they committed crimes against humanity in this fight that's been going on for so long now. But, yes, when you think about the ICC, not in its 10 year history has it completed one single trial. So (INAUDIBLE) it's symbolic at the moment.
MALVEAUX: So how have these trials gone in the past?
HOLMES: Yes, they've dragged on or people have died. Let's have a quick look back at some of the men that the ICC has indicted in the past.
There's the former Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic. He was charged back in 1991. He was, of course, called the butcher of the Balkans. Arrested in 2001. But he died while his genocide trial was in progress.
You've got the ex Liberian president, Charles Taylor. He's still being tried. He was indicted back in 2003 by the special court for Sierra Leone. Still going on. On trial after two years.
Interesting one here. Earlier, this year, Sudan president, Omar al-Bashir, became the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the court. He's still in office. No plans to turn himself in. And what's interesting, too, is he's actually visited several countries that have signed on to the Rome Statute, as it's called, which means they should have handed him over. They didn't. And that really just illustrates the court's biggest problem, which is enforcement.
MALVEAUX: So what do we think is the next step here, assuming an arrest? HOLMES: Well, if they issue the warrant, the ICC does not have any force or power. They can't go get him. They have to ask the Libyan authorities to bring Gadhafi in. And he is the Libyan authority. So you can, you know, guess the likelihood of that happening. In the short term. Long term, maybe.
MALVEAUX: All right, Michael Holmes, thank you for breaking it down. Appreciate it.
HOLMES: Nice to see you.
MALVEAUX: Well, you're sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Is hyper-partisanship driving good candidates out of the presidential race? Your responses just moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says he is not getting in the brutal race for the White House. You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Is hyper-partisanship driving good candidates out of the presidential race? Carol Costello with your responses.
What do people think?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a variety of opinions.
Let's start first with Alex. He says, "there are no good candidates from the Republican Party. Mitt Romney is the only one who hasn't dived headfirst into the crazy end of the pool. And even he is trying to squirm his way out of his own previously-stated policy stances. 2012 is Obama's to lose, which he is fully capable of doing, unfortunately."
This from Chad. "The Republicans and Democrats unite to drive out Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich because two honest politician who stand behind the U.S. Constitution and the American people are a threat to the corrupt criminal factions in Congress." Whew!
This from Michael. "Hyper-partisanship is actually giving life, all be it short term, to fringe candidates who otherwise wouldn't see the light of day. But the question of who or what is driving them away? That's easy -- Barack Obama."
And this from Shauna. "I think Huckabee's 'inner peace' might just be slang for 'I don't have a shot.'"
Thanks to all of you who wrote in. Facebook.com/cnn if you'd like to continue the conversation.
MALVEAUX: You always have a great sense of humor of folks who like write in and call in. They always do. I love it.
COSTELLO: They do. They write better than I do, I'll give them that.
MALVEAUX: All right, Carol, thanks so much.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: You told us what you wanted to see. Your "Choose The News" story, that's just moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: You told us the story you wanted to see. Here's your "Choose The News" winner. Relations between the United States and Pakistan are strained after the raid on the bin Laden compound. But Pakistan has found a willing ally in China. CNN's Eunice Yoon takes a closer look at what the relationship could mean for the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EUNICE YOON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At this Pakistani restaurant in Beijing, they talk about food and the long friendship between China and Pakistan.
AASIF JALEEL, PAKISTANI BUSINESSMAN IN CHINA: The relationship amongst the people, it's very open and very clear. I mean you can see it, you can feel it. They always mention that Pakistan is an old friend (INAUDIBLE), which is good to hear, basically.
YOON: China and Pakistan are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations this year. Pakistan's prime minister is here on a four-day visit. The tour comes amid mounting tensions between Pakistan and another key ally, the U.S., after American special forces killed Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil.
YOON (on camera): Pakistani authorities say that the prime minister's trip was scheduled long ago. But analysts say that this visit now allows Pakistan to counter U.S. pressure by strengthening ties with China, a country that the prime minister has described as Pakistan's best and most trusted friend.
YOON (voice-over): Since the killing of bin Laden, Pakistan has been criticized by some for failing to find bin Laden. But China was one of the first countries to defend Pakistan's role in the war on terror. Analysts say for good reason.
PROF. JIMENG TENG, BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIV.: The Pakistanis played a major kind of role as a bridge. Bridging China to the Muslim world. Pakistan could also be another root for China to, in a sense, to ship oil and petrol and other resources into China.
YOON: China is Pakistan's main arms supplier. Beijing is also offering aid and investing in nuclear power plants and ports. Yet the relationship has its limits. China has strong trade ties with Pakistan's arch rival, India. And analysts say Beijing wants Pakistan to do more to counter Muslim militants in areas along China's western border. But the two sides insist their relationship remains steadfast. And here in this restaurant, some who are weary of assistance from the west want that relationship to grow.
JALEEL: America, they invested a lot of money in Pakistan, but it was not invested in the right direction and in the right areas.
YOON: China, now making its own investments, and some say increasing its influence.
Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: If your choice did not win or you just want to check out the runners up, I'll have them on my links on my page at facebook.com/suzannecnn.
CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Randi Kaye in Los Angeles in for Ali Velshi.
Hey, Randi.
